hen git a hoss and work over toward the Organ Range, which
is sure open country--and cattle. You can't go back the way we
come--and they'll be watchin' the border south."

"Where is that express outfit, anyhow?"

"You know that street where we seen the show? Well, if you keep right
on you'll come to the Square and the express company is right on the
corner."

"All right, Ed. But what you goin' to do?"

"I'm goin' to git a soogun to-morrow mornin', roll my stuff and head
for the border, afoot. I'm a ranch-hand lookin' for work. I know
where I kin get acrost the river. Then I aim to hit for the dry spot,
bush out, and cross the line where they won't be lookin' for a man
afoot, nohow."

"Why don't you git to movin' right now?" Brevoort smiled curiously.
"They's two reasons, pardner; one is that I don't want to git stood up
by a somebody wantin' to know where I'm goin' at night with my
war-bag--and I sure aim to take my chaps and boots and spurs and stuff
along, for I'm like to need 'em. Then you ain't out of town yet."

"Which is why you're stickin' around."

"If we only had a couple of hosses, Pete. It's sure hell bein' afoot,
ain't it?"

"It sure is. Say, Ed, we got to split, anyhow. Why don't you git to
goin'? It ain't like you was quittin' me cold."

"You're a mighty white kid, Pete. And I'm goin' to tell you right now
that you got a heap more sense and nerve than me, at any turn of the
game. You been goin' round to-night on cold nerve and I been travelin'
on whiskey. And I come so clost to gittin' drunk that I ain't sure I
ain't yet. It was liquor first started me ridin' the high trail."

Brevoort had seated himself on the bed beside Pete. As the big Texan
rolled a cigarette, Pete saw that his hands trembled. For the first
time that evening Pete noticed that his companion was under a high
tension. He could hardly believe that Brevoort's nerve was really
shaken.

The street below had grown quieter. From below came the sound of a
door being closed. Brevoort started, cursed, and glanced at Pete.
"Closin' up for the night," he said. Pete quickly shifted his gaze to
the open window. He did not want Brevoort to know that he had noticed
the start, or those hands that trembled.

They rose early, had breakfast at the restaurant across the street, and
returned to the room, Brevoort with a sogun in which he rolled and
corded his effects and Pete with some brown paper in which he wrapped
the