to Hawk. Hawk listened to everything without a change of
countenance--neither smile nor word moved him in the competition to
arouse his interest. When all had had their fling of invitation and
comment he refused an oft-repeated invitation to sit down: "I might
injure your reputations," he said grimly, and moved unconcernedly on.

Van Horn's eyes had not missed the inconspicuous entrance of the two
Falling Wall men: "There's the man himself, right now," he exclaimed,
looking toward Laramie.

"No better time to talk to him, either, than right now," added Barb
Doubleday hoarsely. "Take him back into the office, Harry. When you're
through come up to the room."

Van Horn, leaving the bar, intercepted Laramie. Doubleday and Stone,
pretending not to observe, saw Van Horn, on the plea of important talk,
succeed, after some demur, in inducing Laramie to return with him to the
hotel office. Once there and in a quiet corner with two chairs, Van Horn
lost no time in opening his subject: "You know as well as I do, Jim, what
shape things are in on the North range. It can't go on. Everybody is
losing cattle right and left to these rustlers. They've been running
Doubleday's steers right down to the railroad camp on the Spider
Water--we traced the brands on 'em. You know as well as I do who took
'em."

Laramie listened perfunctorily, his eyes moving part of the time over the
room. "Speak for yourself. Harry," he intervened at this juncture. "I
know exactly nothing about who took anybody's steers, nor that any were
taken."

Van Horn uttered a quick exclamation: "Well, you sure heard about it!"

"In this country a man can hear anything," observed Laramie, not greatly
moved. "I've heard there isn't a crooked cattleman north of Sleepy Cat."

Van Horn stared.

"Go on," continued Laramie, looking at the passers-by, "I'm listening."

"Doubleday has sold the eating house and disposed of his property at the
Junction----"

"You mean his creditors took it, don't you?"

"Put it any way you like. He's going in for more cattle and we're going
to put this range on the map. But--we've got to clean out this Falling
Wall bunch first. The big men can't stand it any longer and won't stand
it."

"What then?"

"I want you to get in right, on the move, with us, Jim--this is your
chance. You're in a tough neighborhood over there. Now I know you're
not a rustler."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do," averred Van Horn. "But ev