, I'd try."

"Never in a thousand years."

"He don't know the country. He'll travel in a circle and I'll ride him
down."

"He's got somebody with him that knows the country better'n you or me."

"Who?"

The face of Nash twisted into an ugly grimace.

"Sally Fortune."

"The hell!"

"It is; but it's true."

"It ain't possible. Sally ain't the kind to make a fool of herself
about any man, let alone a gun-fighter."

"That's what I thought, but I seen her back up this Bard ag'in' a
roomful of men. And she'll keep on backin' him till he's got his toes
turned up."

"That's another reason for you to get Bard, eh? Well, I can't send you
after him, Nash. That's final."

"Not a bit. I know too much about you, Glendin."

The glance of the other raised slowly, fixed on Nash, and then lowered
to the floor. He produced papers and Durham, rolled and lighted his
cigarette, and inhaled a long puff.

"So that's the game, Steve?"

"I hate to do it."

"Let that go. You'll run the limit on this?"

"Listen, Glendin. I've got to get this Bard. He's out-ridden me,
out-shot me, out-gamed me, out-lucked me, out-guessed me--and taken
Sally. He's mine. He b'longs all to me. D'you see that?"

"I'm only seein' one thing just now."

"I know. You think I'm double-crossin' you. Maybe I am, but I'm
desperate, Glendin."

"After all," mused the deputy, "you'd be simply doin' work I'd have to
do later. You're right about this Bard. He'll never be taken alive."

"Good ol' Glendin. I knew you'd see light. I'll go out and get the boys
I want in ten minutes. Wait here. Shorty and Doc Young will come in a
minute. One thing more: when you get to Drew's place you'll find him
actin' queer."

"What about?"

"I dunno why. It's a bad mess. You see, he's after this Bard himself,
the way I figure it, and he wants him left alone. He'd raise hell if he
knew a posse was after the tenderfoot."

"Drew's a bad one to get against me."

"I know. You think I'm double-crossin'?"

"I'll do it. But this squares all scores between us, Steve?"

"Right. It leaves the debt on my side, and you know I've never dodged an
I.O.U. Drew may talk queer. He'll tell you that Bard done all that work
in self-defence."

"Did he?"

"The point is he killed a man and stole a hoss. No matter what comes of
it, he's got to be arrested, don't he?"

"And shot down while 'resistin' arrest'? Steve, I'd hate to have you out
for me like this."

"But you won't listen