said with sardonic gentleness. "Open the damn thing and see if it's there, Noahy."
"You'll not take that horse!" Eudora panted, flushed and furious, making a start to break away.
Her guard intercepted the break, catching her arm, shaking her correctively.
"Won't we, britches? You just wait and see," he laughed. "If you don't behave yourself I'll turn you up and spank you!"
Simpson stiffened like a pointer in scent of the game. Mrs. Ellison, watching everything with cool, calculative eyes, read his intention of springing to the girl's defense and laid a detaining hand on his arm. The man addressed as Noahy was fussing with the lock of the little handbag, swearing not altogether under his breath.
"Oh, cut the damn thing open—cut it open!" the leader chafed impatiently. "See if it's there!"
The fellow called Noahy got the bag open just then. He gave a little whoop, and snapped the jaws of the bag shut again.
"It's there, all right!" he said.
"Then saddle up that horse," the leader directed. "Take a look inside there—" jerking his head to the one at the door—"and see if anybody's hangin' around. Step out there to the krel, you folks," with a directive motion of his gun.
Simpson knew words would be useless. Any protest, any argument, would only make his situation worse in the eyes of the two women, and perhaps provoke the rogues to violence. Any dealing that gang ever had with a sheriff was at as long range as they could make it. They
