ly. Hasn't he thrown all the men out of work!" He pushed the bottle
over toward the other, and he poured out another drink and tossed it
off. "You needn't be so easy about him. He's been mean enough to you.
Wasn't it him that gave the description of you that night when you
stopped the stage?"

Bill Bluffy's face changed, and there was a flash in his eye.

"Who says I done it?"

Plume laughed. "I don't say you did it. You needn't get mad with me. He
says you did it. Keith said he didn't know what sort of man it was.
Wickersham described you so that everybody knew you. I reckon if Keith
had back-stood him you'd have had a harder time than you did."

The cloud had gathered deeper on Bluffy's brow. He took another drink.

"---- him! I'll blow up his ---- mine and him, too!" he growled. "How
did you say 'twas to be done?"

Plume glanced around at the closed windows and lowered his voice as he
made certain explanations.

"I'll furnish the dynamite."

"All right. Give me the money."

But Plume demurred.

"Not till it's done. I haven't any doubt about your doing it," he
explained quickly, seeing a black look in Bluffy's eyes. "But you know
yourself you're liable to get full, and you mayn't do it as well as you
otherwise would."

"Oh, if I say I'll do it, I'll do it."

"You needn't be afraid of not getting your money."

"I ain't afraid," said Bluffy, with an oath. "If I don't get it I'll get
blood." His eyes as they rested on Plume had a sudden gleam in them.

When Wickersham and Plume met that night the latter gave an account of
his negotiation. "It's all fixed," he said, "but it costs more than I
expected--a lot more," he said slowly, gauging Wickersham's views by
his face.

"How much more? I told you my limit."

"We had to do it," said Mr. Plume, without stating the price.

Wickersham swore.

"He won't do it till he gets the cash," pursued Plume. "But I'll be
responsible for him," he added quickly, noting the change in
Wickersham's expression.

Again Wickersham swore; and Plume changed the subject.

"How'd you come out?" he asked.

"When--what do you mean?"

Plume jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "With the lady?"

Wickersham sniffed. "All right." He drifted for a moment into
reflection. "The little fool's got conscientious doubts," he said
presently, with a half-smile. "Won't go unless--." His eyes rested on
Plume's with a gauging expression in them.

"Well, why not? That's natural enough. S