eyes and a handkerchief
tied like a mask. I was scared of him, you bet!"

Corliss slowly drew a sack of tobacco and papers from his pocket. He
rolled a cigarette and puffed reflectively. Then he laughed. "I'm out
about eighteen hundred. That's the first thing. Next, you're used up
pretty bad and we're short-handed. Then, we're losing time trying to
track the thieves. But I'm not riled up a little bit. Don't think I'm
mad at you. I'm mighty glad you didn't get put out in this deal.
That's where I stand. I want to find out who took the money. I don't
say that I'll lift a rein to follow them. Depends on who did it."

Sundown winced, and gazed up helplessly. He felt oppressed by the
broad-chested figure near him. He felt that he could not get away
from--what? Not Corliss, for Corliss was undoubtedly friendly. In a
flash he saw that he could not get away from the truth. Yet he
determined to shield his old pal of the road. "You're sure givin' me
the third degree," he said with an attempt at humor. "I reckon I got
to come through. Boss, are you believin' I didn't take the cash?"

"Sure I am! But that isn't enough. Are you working for the Concho,
Sun, or for some other outfit?"

"The Concho," muttered Sundown stubbornly.

"And I'm the Concho. You're working for me. Listen. I've got a yarn
to spin. The man that took the money--or one of them--was short, and
slim, and clean-shaved, and he didn't wear a puncher hat. You weren't
scared of him because he was a coward. You tried to get him to play
square and he talked to you while the other man got you from behind.
That's just a guess, but you furnished the meat for it."

"Me hands are up," said Sundown.

"All right. I'm not going to get after Billy for this. You lied to
me, but you lied to save your pal. Shake!"

CHAPTER X

THE STORM

Will Corliss, riding through the timberlands toward the west, shivered
as a drop of rain touched his hand. He glanced up through the trees.
The sky seemed clouded to the level of the pine-tops. He spurred his
horse as he again felt a spatter of rain. Before him lay several miles
of rugged trail leading to an open stretch across which he would again
enter the timber on the edge of the hollow where Soper's cabin was
concealed. When Corliss had suggested Soper's place as a rendezvous,
Fadeaway had laughed to himself, knowing that old man Soper had been
driven from the country by a committee of irate ra