ception that had been accorded his effort had made him appear
ridiculous, he knew. It would be days before the outfit would cease
referring to it.

He stretched himself out on the blanket, but after a few moments of
reflection, he sat up, doggedly. He had been imagining all sorts of dire
things that Dorgan might have in mind. He had a presentiment of impending
trouble, and so deep was it that his forehead was damp with perspiration.

Several of the men, disturbed by Owen, had sat up, and were smoking and
talking, and when he heard one of the men, named Blair, refer to a
gunman, Watt Kelso, who had formerly graced Lazette with his presence, a
light leaped into Owen's eyes, his teeth came together with a snap, his
lips formed into straight lines, and he drew a slow, deep breath. For
that was the word that had eluded him--Kelso! And Kelso--how plain and
simple it seemed to him now--Kelso was Dorgan, sitting opposite him now!
Kelso minus his mustache, looking much different than when he had seen
him last, but Kelso, just the same--undeniably Kelso!

So great was Owen's excitement over this discovery that he was forced to
lie down and turn his back to the fire for fear that Kelso might look at
him and thus discover that he was recognized.

As he lay there, his brain yielded to a riot of speculation. What was
Kelso doing here? Why had he come, minus the mustache, assuming the name,
Dorgan? What meant his glances at Randerson?

He provided an explanation presently. Memory drew a vivid picture for
him. It showed him a saloon in Lazette, some card tables, with men seated
around them. Among the men were Kelso and Randerson. Randerson had been a
mere youth. Kelso and Randerson were seated opposite each other, at the
same table. Kelso had been losing--was in bad temper. He had charged
Randerson with cheating. There had been words, and then Kelso had essayed
to draw his pistol. There was a scuffle, a shot, and Kelso had been led
away with a broken arm, broken by Randerson's bullet--blaspheming, and
shouting threats at Randerson. And now, after years of waiting, Kelso had
come to carry out his threats. It was all plain to Owen, now. And with
the knowledge, Owen's excitement abated and he sat up, coldly observant,
alert, to watch and listen.

For, while Owen had been thinking, Blair had continued to talk of Watt
Kelso, of his deeds and his personality. And Owen saw that for the first
time since joining the outfit, Kelso seemed in