exico" was head, and
that meant banishment from the line of the Crow's Nest Pass. "Peachy"
was startled.

"You needn't be so blanked swift," he growled apologetically. "I didn't
mean for to--"

"You git!" repeated "Mexico," turning the pointing finger from the door
to the face of the startled wretch.

With a fierce oath "Peachy" reached for his gun, but hesitated to draw.
"Mexico" moved not a line of his face, not a muscle of his body, except
that his head went a little back and the heavy eyelids fell somewhat
over the piercing black eyes.

"You dog!" he ground out through his clenched teeth, "you know you can't
bring out your gun. I know you. You poor cur! You thought you'd sell me
up to the other side! I know your scheme! Now git, and quick!"

The command came sharp like a snap of an animal's teeth, while
"Mexico's" hand dropped swiftly to his side. Instantly "Peachy" rose
and backed slowly toward the door, his face wearing the grin of a savage
beast. At the door he paused.

"'Mexico,'" he said, "is this the last between you and me?"

"Mexico" kept his gleaming eyes fastened upon the face of the man
backing out of the door.

"Git out, you cur!" he said, with contemptuous deliberation.

"Take that, then."

Like a flash, "Mexico" threw himself to one side. Two shots rang out as
one. A slight smile curled "Mexico's" lip.

"Got him that time, I reckon."

"Hurt, 'Mexico'?" anxiously inquired his friends.

"Naw. He ain't got the nerve to shoot straight." The bartender and some
others came running in with anxious faces. "Never mind, boys," said
"Mexico." "'Peachy' was foolin' with his gun; it went off and hurt him
some."

"Say, there's blood here!" said the bartender. "He's been bleedin' bad."

"Guess he's more scared than hurt. Now let's git to business."

The bartender and his friends took the hint and retired.

"Now, boys, listen to me," said "Mexico" impressively, leaning over the
table. "Right here I want to say that the doctor is a friend of mine,
and the man that touches him touches me." There was an ominous silence.

"Just as you say, 'Mexico,'" said one of the men, "but I see the finish
of our game in these parts. The doctor's got the boys a-goin' and you
know he ain't the kind that quits."

"You're right an' you're wrong. The Doc ain't the whole Government of
this country yet. His game's the winnin' game. Any fool can see that.
But we hold most of the trumps just now. So for the present we s