udly and authoritatively:

"Arrest that man--quick!"

A man behind Sanderson lunged forward, twisting Sanderson around with
the impetus of the movement. Off his balance, Sanderson saw three or
four other men dive toward Colton. He saw Colton reach for the weapon
he had previously sheathed; saw the weapon knocked from his hand.

Four men seized Colton, and he struggled helplessly in their grasp as
he was dragged away, his face working malignantly as he looked back at
Dale.

"Double-crossed!" he yelled; "you damned, grinnin' coyote!"

A crowd had gathered; Sanderson shouldered his way toward Dale and
faced him. Sanderson's face was white with rage, but his voice was
cold and steady as he stood before Dale.

"So that's the way you work, is it, Dale? I'll give you what you was
goin' to pay Colton, if you'll pull your gun right now!"

Dale's smile was maddeningly insolent.

"Bah!" he said, "I'm an officer of the law. There are a dozen of my
men right behind you! Pull your gun! I'd like nothing better than to
have an excuse to perforate you! Sanderson, eh?" he laughed. "Well,
I've heard of you. Square Deal, eh? And here you are, masqueradin' as
Will Bransford! That's goin' to be quite an interestin' situation at
the Double A when things get to goin', eh?"

He laughed again, raucously, and turned his back to Sanderson,
disappearing into the store.

Sanderson glanced behind him. Several men were watching him, their
faces set and determined. Sanderson grinned at them and continued his
interrupted walk down the street.

But something had been added to his hatred of Alva Dale--the knowledge
that Dale would not scruple to murder him on any pretext. Sanderson's
grin grew wider as he walked, for he knew of several men who had
harbored such evil intentions against him, and they----

But Dale was a stronger antagonist, and he had power and authority
behind him. Still, his spirit undaunted, Sanderson's grin grew wider,
though perhaps more grim. It was entirely worth while, now, the
deceiving of the woman he had hoped to protect; it wasn't her fight,
but his. And he would make the fight a good one.

CHAPTER XIII

A PLOT THAT WORKED

Sanderson left the board walk and cut through a yard to the railroad.
He followed the rails until he reached the station. To his question
the station agent informed him that Dave Silverthorn might be found in
his office on the second floor of the building.

Sander