with his back turned, drew his revolver and took careful aim by
means of the mirror.

This had been a spot where for a moment he was troubled. Instead of
pointing the weapon over his shoulder, aiming by the mirror, he was
directed to point it at the Mexican's reflection in the glass, and to
fire at this reflection. "It's all right," Baird assured him. "It's
a camera trick, see? It may look now as if you were shooting into the
mirror but it comes perfectly right on the film. You'll see. Go on,
aim carefully, right smack at that looking-glass--fire!" Still somewhat
doubting, Merton fired. The mirror was shattered, but a dozen feet back
of him the treacherous Mexican threw up his arms and fell lifeless, a
bullet through his cowardly heart. It was a puzzling bit of trick-work,
he thought, but Baird of course would know what was right, so the
puzzle was dismissed. Buck Benson, silent man of the open, had got the
scoundrel who would have played him false.

A thrilling struggle ensued between Merton and the hellhound of justice.
Perceiving who had slain his would-be informant, the detective came to
confront Merton. Snatching off his cap and mustache he stood revealed as
the man who had not dared to arrest him at the scene of his crime. With
another swift movement he snatched away the mustache that had
disguised his quarry. Buck Benson, at bay, sprang like a tiger upon his
antagonist. They struggled while the excited cowboys surged about them.
The detective proved to be no match for Benson. He was borne to earth,
then raised aloft and hurled over the adjacent tables.

This bit of acting had involved a trick which was not obscure to Merton
like his shot into the mirror that brought down a man back of him.
Moreover, it was a trick of which he approved. When he bore the
detective to earth the cameras halted their grinding while a dummy in
the striking likeness of the detective was substituted. It was a light
affair, and he easily raised it for the final toss of triumph.

"Throw it high as you can over those tables and toward the bar," called
Baird. The figure was thrown as directed.

"Fine work! Now look up, as if he was still in the air, now down, now
brush your left sleeve lightly with your right hand, now brush your
right sleeve lightly with your left hand.

"All right--cut. Great, Merton! If that don't get you a hand I don't
know what will. Now all outside for the horseback stuff!"

Outside, the faithful cowboys leaped