ins, but it seems the boys are on the
anxious seat about these little socials of ours. They've embraced the
notion that I'm selling them. I hated to have them harassed with doubts,
so I invited the new majordomo of the ranch to come with me. Of cou'se,
if you object--"

"I don't object in the least, but I want him to understand the
agreement. I've got a posse waiting at Eldorado Springs, and as soon as
I get back there we take the trail after you. Bucky O'Connor is at the
head of the posse."

York grinned. "We'll be in Sonora then, Val. Think I'm going to wait and
let you shoot off my other fingers?"

Collins fished from his vest pocket the papers he had taken from
Scott hat and from Webster. "I think I'll be jogging along back to the
springs. I reckon these are what you want."

Leroy took them from him and handed them to Neil. "Don't let us detain
you any longer, Mr. Collins. I know you're awful busy these days."

The sheriff nodded a good day, cut down the hill on the slant, and
disappeared in a mesquit thicket, from the other side of which he
presently emerged astride a bay horse.

The two outlaws retraced their way to the foot of the hill and remounted
their broncos.

"I want to say, cap, that I'm eating humble-pie in big chunks right this
minute," said Neil shamefacedly, scratching his curly poll and looking
apologetically at his former chief. "I might 'a' knowed you was straight
as a string, all I've seen of you these last two years. If those coyotes
say another word, cap--"

An exploding echo seemed to shake the mountain, and then another. Leroy
swayed in the saddle, clutching at his side. He pitched forward, his
arms round the horse's neck, and slid slowly to the ground.

Neil was off his horse in an instant, kneeling beside him. He lifted him
in his arms and carried him behind a great outcropping boulder.

"It's that hound Collins," he muttered, as he propped the wounded man's
head on his arm. "By God, I didn't think it of Val."

Leroy opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "Guess again, York."

"You don't mean--"

He nodded. "Right this time--Hardman and Chaves and Reilly. They shot
to get us both. With us out of the way they could divide the treasure
between them."

Neil choked. "You ain't bad hurt, old man. Say you ain't bad hurt,
Phil."

"More than I can carry, York; shot through and through. I've been
doubtful of Reilly for a long time."

"By the Lord, if I don't get the rattlesnake for t