a, and of Pop Annersley; of Andy White
and Bailey. He wondered if Ed Brevoort had got clear of El Paso. He
knew that there was some one in the hall, waiting. To make a break for
liberty in that direction meant a killing, especially as Brevoort was
supposed to be in the room. "I'll keep 'em guessin'," he told himself,
and went back to his chair by the window. And if there was supposed to
be another man in the room, why not carry on the play--for the benefit
of the watcher across the street? Every minute would count for or
against Brevoort's escape.

Thrusting aside all thought of his own precarious situation, Pete began
a brisk conversation with his supposed companion. "How does your head
feel?" he queried, leaning forward and addressing the empty bed. He
nodded as if concurring in the answer.

Then, "Uh-huh! Well, you look it, all right!"

"You don't want no breakfast? Well, I done had mine."

....................

"What's the time? 'Bout ten. Goin' to git up?"

....................

Pete gestured as he described an imaginative incident relative to his
supposed companion's behavior the preceding night. "Some folks been
here askin' for you." Pete shook his head as though he had been asked
who the callers were. He had turned sideways to the open window to
carry on this pantomimic dialogue. He glanced at the restaurant across
the street. The heavy-shouldered man had disappeared. Pete heard a
faint shuffling sound in the hall outside. Before he could turn the
door crashed inward. He leapt to his feet. With the leap his hand
flashed to his side. Unaccustomed to a coat, his thumb caught in the
pocket just as the man who had shouldered the flimsy door down, reeled
and sprawled on the floor. Pete jerked his hand free, but in that lost
instant a gun roared in the doorway. He crumpled to the floor. The
heavy-shouldered man, followed by two officers, stepped into the room
and glanced about.

"Thought there was two? Where's the other guy?" queried the policeman.

The man on the floor rose and picked up his gun.

"Well, we got one, anyhow. Bill, 'phone the chief that one of 'em got
away. Have 'em send the wagon. This kid here is done for, I guess."

"He went for his gun," said the heavy-shouldered man. "It's a dam'
good thing you went down with that door. Gave me a chance to get him."

"Here's their stuff," said an officer, kicking Pete's pack that lay
corded on the floor.

"Well, T