had hurried over to
the barn to get Kitchen and telephone Tenison to come down.

"There's two ways they can get out," said Laramie, casting up the
situation with his companions. "One is across the Falling Wall and
over the Reservation. If they've gone that way they've got a start;
but they're easy to trail. The other way would be to strike east or
west for the railroad. That's the big gamble--it's the easiest to play
and the worst if they lose. They may separate."

"My Godfrey, Jim, don't let 'em get away," exclaimed Belle, fearfully.

"And there's one more angle," remarked Laramie. "They may show up
right here and try to bluff it out."

Sawdy shook his head against that idea. Lefever supported him.
Laramie did not urge the view. "Van Horn plays cards different from
everybody else," was all he said.

Kitchen drove up and Tenison was in the buggy with him.

What help might be had from the sheriff's office was put in Tenison's
hands to manage. The railroad men were warned across the division.
Outgoing train crews were notified and the enginemen told what to do,
if stopped. Sawdy and Lefever were directed to strike for the Falling
Wall and watch the Reservation trails, while Laramie, with Kate, was to
ride straight to the ranch and pick up the trail across the creek.

The news of the shooting of Barb Doubleday filled the corners of Main
Street with little knots of men eager to hear all that was known and to
be first to catch what might come. Women sometimes stopped to listen
and men making ready to ride the northern trails supplied clattering in
the streets for every moment and added to the tense scene. The chances
for the escape of Van Horn and Stone were canvassed among critics and
listeners, and with almost as much insight as they had been cast up in
the war council at Belle's. The men that might be expected to give
battle if they encountered the fugitives were watched for and every
time they rode past, the maneuvering and fighting abilities of each
were speculated on with surprising accuracy; records were recalled and
inferences drawn as to the possibilities now ahead.

The picture of the busy street, constantly renewed and dissolved,
changed fast. Lefever and Sawdy, together, were the first to clear for
their long ride. Kitchen, strapping on, for the first time in years, a
well cared-for Colt's revolver, got fresh ammunition, and throwing
himself on a good horse, rode for where he had sworn he