himself. "I say you shall
leave this town."

"I heard what you said. But I thought we were to be cool. Oh, pardon
me, it was the fire that gave offense."

"I say you are going to leave this town."

"Good-bye, then."

"I will make one more attempt," said Sawyer, standing in the door.

"Don't exert yourself."

"I will offer you a thousand dollars to go away."

"My stock is rising."

"Will you take it?"

"The advance is too rapid. Can't afford to sell now."

Sawyer began to sputter. "I'm done," he said. "I have no other
proposition to make. But remember what I say. You are going to leave
this town."

"Then I may not see you again; good-bye."

CHAPTER XVI.

SAWYER'S PLAN.

McElwin was engaged when Sawyer returned to the bank, but he soon
cleared the room. "Well," he said, when the mule buyer entered. Sawyer
sat down before he replied.

"He refused."

McElwin's feet scraped the floor. "Refused?"

"Yes. He took the check, struck a match and burned it up."

"The scoundrel."

"Worse than that, he wrapped up the cinders and told me to take them
to you, and tell you that he had burnt the little finger of your god."

"Blasphemous wretch!"

"And I told him that he had not only insulted me, but had put an
indignity upon you. I talked to him just as cool as a man could talk
to anybody; we got along first rate until he burnt the check, and
then, of course, it was all off. No it wasn't, not even then. As I
stood in the door on my way out I offered him a thousand dollars. And
he refused. And do you know why? I think he's got the notion that by
sticking out he may win you and Eva over and get a partnership here."

McElwin jumped up and slapped his hand upon the table. "I would see
him in----first." He turned about and began to walk slowly up and down
the room.

"But he's going to leave this town," said Sawyer. "When I set my head
on a thing I go at it with reason and work on that line until I find
it hasn't any power, and then I use force. I am going to do it in this
case."

"How?" McElwin asked.

"The boys have a way of getting at a thing that persuasion can't
reach."

"Speak out," said McElwin. "Tell me what you are going to do."

"Well, I am going out into the Spring Hill neighborhood and appeal to
the boys--the White Caps. Then, some fine night, a party, all dressed
in white head-gear, will call on Mr. Lyman. They will put him on a
horse, take him out to the woods, take off his shirt, t