d he hold him a prisoner indefinitely. He had seen
the "personal" warning in both the morning and the afternoon papers. He
guessed that the presence of the ranger Bucky O'Connor in Saguache was not
a chance. The law was closing in on him. Somehow Cullison must be made to
come through with a relinquishment and a pledge not to prosecute. The only
other way out would be to let Blackwell wreak his hate on the former
sheriff. From this he shrank with every instinct. Fendrick was a hard man.
He would have fought it out to a finish if necessary. But murder was a
thing he could not do.

He had never discussed the matter with Blackwell. The latter had told him
of this retreat in the mountains and they had brought their prisoner here.
But the existence of the prospect hole at the foot of the Devil's Slide
was unknown to him. From the convict's revenge he had hitherto saved Luck.
Blackwell was his tool rather than his confederate, but he was uneasily
aware that if the man yielded to the elemental desire to kill his enemy
the law, would hold him, Cass Fendrick, guilty of the crime.

"Price of sheep good this week?" Cullison asked amiably.

"I didn't come here to discuss the price of sheep with you." Fendrick
spoke harshly. A dull anger against the scheme of things burned in him.
For somehow he had reached an _impasse_ from which there was neither
advance nor retreat.

"No. Well, you're right there. What I don't know about sheep would fill
several government reports. Of course I've got ideas. One of them is----"

"I don't care anything about your ideas. Are you going to sign this
relinquishment?"

Luck's face showed a placid surprise. "Why no, Cass. Thought I mentioned
that before."

"You'd better." The sheepman's harassed face looked ugly enough for
anything.

"Can't figure it out that way."

"You've got to sign it. By God, you've no option."

"No?" Still with pleasant incredulity.

"Think I'm going to let you get away from here now. You'll sign and you'll
promise to tell nothing you know against us."

"No, I don't reckon I will."

Cullison was looking straight at him with his fearless level gaze.
Fendrick realized with a sinking heart that he could not drive him that
way to surrender. He knew that in the other man's place he would have
given way, that his enemy was gamer than he was.

He threw up his hand in a sullen gesture that disclaimed responsibility.
"All right. It's on your own head. I've done all I can for