y of making this
kind of an affair pleasant. I am going to do some riding, as I told
you. Kennedy is working up through the Deep Creek country, and has
three men with him. I shall ride toward the Cache and meet him
somewhere near South Mission Pass."

"Gordon, would it do any good to ask a few questions?"

"Ask as many as you like, my dear boy, but don't be disappointed if I
can't answer them. I can look wise, but I don't know anything. You
know what we are up against. This fellow has grown a tiger among the
wolves, and he has turned the pack loose on us. One thing I ask you to
do. Don't expose yourself at night. Your life isn't worth a
coupling-pin if you do."

McCloud raised his hand. "Take care of _your_self. If you are murdered
in this fight I shall know I got you in and that I am to blame."

"And suppose you were?" Smith had risen from his chair. He had few
mannerisms, and recalling the man the few times I have seen him, the
only impression he has left on me is that of quiet and gentleness.
"Suppose you were?" He was resting one arm on top of McCloud's desk.
"What of it? You have done for me up here what I couldn't do, George.
You have been kind to Marion when she hadn't a friend near. You have
stood between him and her when I couldn't be here to do it, and when
she didn't want me to--helped her when I hadn't the privilege of doing
it." McCloud put up his hand in protest, but it was unheeded. "How
many times it has been in my heart to kill that man. She knows it; she
prays it may never happen. That is why she stays here and has kept me
out of the mountains. She says they would talk about her if I lived in
the same town, and I have stayed away." He threw himself back into the
chair. "It's going beyond both of us now. I've kept the promise I made
to her to-day to do all in my power to settle this thing without
bloodshed. It will not be settled in that way, George."

"Was he at Sugar Buttes?"

"If not, his gang was there. The quick get-away, the short turn on Van
Horn, killing two men to rattle the _posse_--it all bears Sinclair's
ear-marks. He has gone too far. He has piled up plunder till he is
reckless. He is crazy with greed and insane with revenge. He thinks he
can gallop over this division and scare Bucks till he gets down on his
knees to him. Bucks will never do it. I know him, and I tell you Bucks
will never do it. He is like that man in Washington: he will fight it
to the death. He would fight Sinclair