ed the work of sending him on the downward path with Conklin's
little crew of desperadoes. Men shrank from facing those too-bright,
wandering eyes, yet it was from pity almost as much as horror.

Finally came Ufert. He was merely a round-faced boy of nineteen, proud
of the distinguished bad company he kept. He was that weak-minded type
which is only strong when it becomes wholly evil. With a different
leadership he would have become simply a tobacco-chewing hanger-on at
cross-roads saloons and general merchandise stores. As it was, feeling
dignified by the brotherhood of crime into which he had been admitted as
a full member, and eager to prove his qualifications, he was as
dangerous as any member of the crew.

The three men who were already in the room had been prepared by Glendin
for this new arrival, but the fact was almost too much for their
credence. Consequently they rose, and Dr. Young muttered at the ear of
Glendin: "Is it possible, Deputy Glendin, that you're going to use these
fellows?"

"A thief to catch a thief," whispered Glendin in reply.

He said aloud: "Butch, I've been looking for you for a long time, but I
really never expected to see you quite as close as this."

"You've said it," grinned Butch, "I ain't been watchin' for you real
close, but now that I see you, you look more or less like a man should
look. H'ware ye, Glendin?"

He held out his hand, but the deputy, shifting his position, seemed to
overlook the grimy proffered palm.

"You fellows know that you're wanted by the law," he said, frowning on
them.

A grim meaning rose in the vacuous eye of Lovel; Isaacs caressed his
diamond pin, smiling in a sickly fashion; McNamara's wandering stare
fixed and grew unhumanly bright; Ufert openly dropped his hand on his
gun-butt and stood sullenly defiant.

"You know that you're wanted, and you know why," went on Glendin, "but
I've decided to give you a chance to prove that you're white men and
useful citizens. Nash has already told you what we want. It's work for
seven men against one, but that one man is apt to give you all plenty
to do. If you are--successful"--he stammered a little over the right
word--"what you have done in the past will be forgotten. Hold up your
right hands and repeat after me."

And they repeated the oath after him in a broken, drawling chorus,
stumbling over the formal, legal phraseology.

He ended, and then: "Nash, you're in charge of the gang. Do what you
want to wit