r Waldron was in the very act of pulling back his chair,
and perhaps all three had just come in. Perhaps Barry had come here to
look for his quarry and found them not yet arrived; perhaps he was
now hunting in other places through the town; perhaps he was even now
crouched in the shadow near at hand and ready to attack.

It made the hand of Vic Gregg contract with a cruel pressure when it
fell on the shoulder of Sliver Waldron.

"Now, what in hell!" grunted that hardened warrior.

He had no love for Vic Gregg since that day when the posse rode through
the hills after him; neither had Ronicky or Gus Reeve, who rose from
their chairs as if at a signal. "Come with me, gents," said Vic. "An'
come quick!"

They asked no questions and did not stay to argue the point for he had
that in his face which meant action. He led them outside, and behind the
horse shed of the saloon.

"We're alone?" he asked.

"Nothin' in sight."

"Look sharp."

They peered about them through the night, and a wan moon only helped to
make the darkness visible.

"Gents, we may be alone now, but we ain't goin' to be alone long. Get
your bosses and ride like hell. Barry is in town!"

"Vic, you're drunk."

"I tell you, he's been seen--"

"Then by God," growled Sliver Waldron, "lead me to him. I need to have a
little talk with that gent."

"Lead you to him?" echoed Vic Gregg. "Sliver, are you hungerin' to push
daisies?"

"Look here, Bud," answered the older man, and he laid a hand on the
shoulder of Vic. "You been with this Barry, gent, and you've lived in
his house. D'you mean to say you're one of the lot that talks about him
like he was a ghost bullets couldn't harm? I tell you, son, they's been
so much chatter about him that folks forget he's human. I'm goin' to
remind 'em of that little fact."

Vic Gregg groaned. Even while he talked he was glancing over his
shoulder as if he feared the shadows under the moon. His voice was half
gasp, half whisper.

"Sliver--Ronicky--don't ask me how I know--jest believe me when I say
Dan Barry'll never die by the hand of any man. I tell you--he can see in
the dark!"

A soft oath from Gus Reeve; a twitching of Ronicky's head told that this
last had taken effect. Sliver Waldron suddenly altered his manner.

"All right, Vic. Trot back into town, or come with us. We're going to
move out."

"The wisest thing you ever done, Sliver."

"I'm feelin' the same way," breathed Gus Reeve.

"S'long," whis