. I admit it; it is a fair
question. And I answer, no, Bull. McAlpin has had nothing on the face
of the desert to do with my sending for you. And I add this because I
know you want to hear it: he says he couldn't complain of your work,
because you never do any."

"That man," persisted Bull, reinforced by the hearty tone and not
clearly catching the drift of the very last words, "drinks more liquor
than I do."

"He must be some tank, Bull."

"And I don't hide it, Mr. de Spain."

"You'd have to crawl under Music Mountain to do that. What I want to
know is, do you like your job?"

On this point it was impossible to get an expression from Bull. He
felt convinced that de Spain was pressing for an answer only as a
preliminary to his discharge. "No matter," interposed the latter,
cutting Bull's ramblings short, "drop it, Bull. I want you to do
something for me, and I'll pay for it."

Bull, with a palsied smile and a deep, quavering note of gratitude,
put up his shaky hand. "Say what. That's all. I've been paid."

"You know you're a sot, Bull."

Bull nodded. "I know it."

"A disgrace to the Maker whose image you were made in."

Bull started, but seemed, on reflection, to consider this a point on
which he need not commit himself.

"Still, I believe there's a man in you yet. Something, at any rate,
you couldn't completely kill with whiskey, Bull--what?"

Bull lifted his weak and watery eyes. His whiskey-seamed face
brightened into the ghost of a smile. "What I'm going to ask you to
do," continued de Spain, "is a man's job. You can get into the Gap
without trouble. You are the only man I can put my hand on just now,
that can. I want you to ride over this morning and hang out around
Duke Morgan's place till you can get a chance to see Miss Nan----"

At the mention of her name, Bull shook his head a moment in
affirmative approval. "She's a queen!" he exclaimed with admiring but
pungent expletives. "A queen!"

"I think so, Bull. But she is in troublesome circumstances. You know
Nan and I----"

Bull winked in many ways.

"And her Uncle Duke is making us trouble, Bull. I want you to find
her, speak with her, and bring word to me as to what the situation is.
That doesn't mean you're to get drunk over there--in fact, I don't
think anybody over there would give you a drink----"

"Don't believe they would."

"And you are to ride back here with what you can find out just as
quick, after you get into the clear, as a