by--"

"Haven't time, now. Got to scare up two more witnesses to go on your
paper. There's a place, just opening up."

They crossed the street. Next to the barbershop was a saloon.

Sundown eyed the sign pensively. "I ain't a drinkin' man--regular," he
said, "but there are times . . ."

"There are times," echoed Corliss, and the three filed between the
swing-doors and disappeared.

An hour later three men, evidently cow-men from their gait and bearing,
passed along the main street of Usher and entered the court-house,
where they were met by two citizens. The five men were admitted to the
inner sanctum of the hall of justice, from which they presently
emerged, laughing and joking. The tallest of them seemed to be
receiving the humorous congratulations of his companions. He shook
hands all around and remarked half-apologetically: "I ain't a drinkin'
man, reg'lar . . . but there are times . . ."

The five men drifted easily toward the swing-doors. Presently they
emerged. Shoop nudged his employer. David Loring and his daughter had
just crossed the street. The old sheep-man glanced at the group in
front of the saloon and blinked hard. Of the West, he read at a glance
the situation. Sundown, Corliss, and Shoop raised their hats as
Eleanor Loring bowed.

"Beat him by a neck!" said Shoop. "Guess we better fan it, eh, Jack?"

"There's no hurry," said Corliss easily. Nevertheless, he realized
that Sundown's presence in Usher was quite apt to be followed by a wire
from the sheriff of Antelope which would complicate matters, to say the
least. He shook hands with the two townsmen and assured them that the
hospitality of the Concho was theirs when they chose to honor it. Then
he turned to Bud Shoop. "Get the fastest saddle-horse in town and ride
out to the South road and wait for us. I'm going to send Sundown over
to Murphy's. Pat knows me pretty well. From there he can take the
Apache road to the Concho. We can outfit him and get him settled at
the water-hole ranch before any one finds out where he is."

"But Jim'll get him again," said Shoop.

"I expect him to. That'll be all right."

"Well, you got me. Thought I knowed somethin' about your style, but I
don't even know your name."

"Let's move on. You go ahead and get the cayuse. I want to talk to
Sundown."

Then Corliss explained his plan. He told Sundown to keep the
water-hole fenced and so keep the sheep-men from using it. This woul