d taunt him with it.

"Take care," he advised hoarsely.

Cullison laughed and went back to the paper.

"'Lieutenant O'Connor of the Arizona Rangers left town to-day for a short
trip into the hills where he expects to spend a few days hunting.' Hunting
what, do you reckon? Or hunting who, I should say. Ever meet Bucky
O'Connor, Blackwell? No, I reckon not. He's since your time. A crackerjack
too! Wonder if Bucky ain't after some friends of mine."

"Shut up," growled the other.

"Sure you'll be shut up--when Bucky lands you," retorted Luck cheerfully.
Then, with a sudden whoop: "Hello, here's a personal to your address.
Fine! They're getting ready to round you up, my friend. Listen. 'The
friends of L. C. serve notice that what occurred at the Jack of Hearts is
known. Any violence hereafter done to him will be paid for to the limit.
No guilty man will escape.' So the boys are getting busy. I figured they
would be. Looks like your chance of knocking me on the head has gone down
Salt River. I tell you nowadays a man has to grab an opportunity by the
tail when it's there."

The former convict leaned forward angrily. "Lemme see that paper."

His guest handed it over, an index finger pointing out the item. "Large as
life, Blackwell. No, sir. You ce'tainly didn't ride herd proper on that
opportunity."

"Don't be too sure it's gone, Mr. Sheriff."

The man's face was twisted to an ugly sneer back of which lurked cruel
menace. The gray eyes of Cullison did not waver a hair's breadth.

"It's gone. I'm as safe as if I were at the Circle C."

"Don't you think it."

"They've got you dead to rights. Read that personal again. Learn it by
heart. 'The friends of L. C. give warning.' You better believe they're
rounding up your outfit. They know I'm alive. They know all about the Jack
of Hearts. Pretty soon they'll know where you've got me hidden."

"You'd better pray they won't. For if they find the nest it will be
empty."

"Yes?" Luck spoke with ironical carelessness, but he shot an alert keen
glance at the other.

"That's what I said. Want to know where you will be?" the other
triumphed.

"I see you want to tell me. Unload your mind."

Triumph overrode discretion. "Look out of that window behind you."

Luck turned. The cabin was built on a ledge far up on the mountain side.
From the back wall sloped for a hundred feet an almost perpendicular slide
of rock.

"There's a prospect hole down there," Blackwell explained