Ah, the fools!
He held her lightly, his fingertips under her elbows. For all the
delicacy of that touch, she knew that if she attempted to flee, the grip
would be iron. He would hold her where she was until he was through
talking to her.
"Don't you see what I've done?" he was saying rapidly. "You wanted to
drive me out last night. You said I didn't fit--that I didn't belong up
here. Well, Kate, I started out today to make myself fit to belong to
this company of fine fellows."
He laughed a little; if it were not real mirth, at least there was a
fierce quality of joy in his voice.
"You see, I decided that if I went away I'd be lonely. Particularly, I'd
be lonely as the devil, Kate, for you!"
"You've murdered to make yourself one--of us?"
"Tush, Kate. You exaggerate entirely. Do you know what I've really done?
Why, I've wakened; I've come to my senses. After all, there was no other
place for me to go. I tried the world of good, ordinary working people. I
asked them to let me come in and prove my right to be one of them. They
discharged me when I worked honestly on the range. They sent their
professional gunmen and bullies after me.
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