pause broken only by the arrival of Dix Leonard with drinks for Rip and Lily. "I would like to thank you, though," Lily said, switching down to her husky tones, much more natural in sound. She stared, as always at the lipstick she left on her glass. Many of the guys who had bought her drinks kept the glass with the impression of her lips upon it, for what purpose Rip could only surmise.

"You're welcome, Miss Du- pree," said Douglas. He picked up her left hand and looked at the four rings and the long, red fingernails. "It is Miss Dupree, isn't it?"

Lily was startled. She tried to take back her hand, but the grip was like iron. "Y-yes, it is," she stammered.

"None o'these," Big Jim's fat, stocky fingers pointed at the jade and silver rings, "mean anything, do they? You aint't wearing something of Rip's here, are you?" He pressed upon the thick band set with blue stones about Lily's ring finger.

"N-no," Lily gasped. She winced and Douglas reluctantly released her hand.

"You don't have no brand on this lady yet, Rip?" he turned with the question to give the saloon owner a hooded look.

"Course not," said Hassell cheerfully, returning his atten- tion which had wandered off to survey the packed barroom. "Lily's the performer and as free as the wind."

"Good," Douglas nodded his huge, heavy head. "You may have heard o' my spread, Miss Dupree, the River Circle Ranch." He said it proudly. "I'd like very much to have you visit me there.'

Hassell's drink spilt as he swal- lowed hard. Lily appeared frozen mesmerized by the older man. “I also own a share in the Diggings,' Douglas was going on. "I buried

two wives down on the Creek, and I'll tell you frankly, I'm get- ting very lonesome out there on that big ranch all by myself. All the money I got ain't enough to make me happy."

""

Hassell was trying to intervene but Lily spoke first. "I think I understand what you're saying,' she began, "but really", she gave a little shrug, "I'm a show- girl, a dance hall girl."

www

Douglas grunted. "So was my second wife," he said. "Best wife a man ever had like all you girls when you settle down. Course, his tone was suddenly bleak, "I don't intend to spend all the year of any year at the River Circle. I got a place in St. Louis. Aim to spend winters there, and other times of the year." Again, there was an awk- ward pause. "So, come on out and see the place, Lily, if I can call you that. It's one of the most beautiful ranches in the territory." He turned to Hassell. "When you gonna set her free, Rip? When can she come see me?"

"W-Wednesday," Rip's voice was strangled. "I'll bring Lily out on Wednesday."

"Fine," said the older man. He picked up his stetson and cover- ed up his thinning strands of black hair, his face the epitome of power and firm resolve. "I'll see you Wednesday, Lily. I'll be counting the hours." Then he stood and walked away stiffly, several cowboys gulping down their shots rapidly before scamp- ering after him.

"I need another drink," said Lily unsteadily.

Rip waved away the miners who now wanted to join Lily since Big Jim Douglas was gone. "Don't worry," he said. "We should have this... this business over with by Wednesday. I'll just have to tell him that the marshals got here first."

28

But the marshals did not ar- rive on the Tuesday stage as Rip was sure that they would. There was a little crowd about the land- ing stage so that it took a while to unload the passengers but there was obviously no marshal aboard.

As he turned to leave, Rip saw George Askin and Lyle Cooper, saloon owners from the main strip, also turning away, but there was disgust on their faces. Rip went up to them, but Askin spoke first. "So you got away with it," he said, chagrin written all over his face.

Rip frowned. "Maybe no-one reported it," he said slowly.

Cooper shook his head. "We did, Rip," he said quietly. "George and I sent in complaints about you. You broke the terms of the Company Agreement." He smiled. "You've almost wiped us out of business this last week- end."

Rip nodded, puzzled. "Per- haps they'll be riding in," he said. knowing, however, that Dunford and Crockett, the South Bend marshals, always took the stage.

"No!" Askin was still in a rage "It's Douglas," he said. "You played your cards right there, Rip, with that Dupree woman. Douglas has already asked for the ban to be lifted, and, while they consider it, your woman can stay." He was very bitter. "How did you get her in?" he asked, lips compressed so tightly they were almost white. "You must

have found a pass through the

mountains. Gonna undercut our whiskey next?"

"George!" Even Lyle Cooper was astounded by his partner's sneers. He turned to Rip. "You know that my hat's off to you, Rip, even though I don't know how you did it. Now, if Douglas breaks the ban, I've a couple of