in the world to sacrifice his
business for sentiment. Having put the savings of a lifetime into the
sheep business, he did not propose to let anybody deprive him of his
profits either legally or illegally.

Luck was talking easily, in the most casual and amiable of voices.

"No, Dominguez, the way I look at it you and Cass got in bad this time.
Here's the point. In this little vendetta of ours both sides were trying
to keep inside the law and win out. When you elected Bolt sheriff that was
one to you. When you took out that grazing permit and cut me off the
reserve that was another time you scored heavy. A third time was when you
brought 'steen thousand of Mary's little lambs baaing across the desert.
Well, I come back at you by deeding the Circle C to my girl and taking up
the Del Oro homestead. You contest and lose. Good enough. It's up to you
to try another move."

"_Si, Senor_, and we move immediate. We persuade you to visit us at our
summer mountain home where we can talk at leisure. We suggest a
compromise."

Luck grinned. "Your notion of a compromise and mine don't tally, Jose.
Your idea is for me to give you the apple and stand by while you eat it.
Trouble is that both parties to this quarrel are grabbers."

"True, but Senor Cullison must remember his hands are tied behind him. He
will perhaps not find the grabbing good," his opponent suggested
politely.

"Come to that, your hands are tied too, my friend. You can't hold me here
forever. Put me out of business and the kid will surely settle your hash
by proving up on the claim. What are you going to do about it?"

"Since you ask me, I can only say that it depends on you. Sign the
relinquishment, give us your word not to prosecute, and you may leave in
three hours."

Cullison shook his head. "That's where you get in wrong. Buck up against
the law and you are sure to lose."

"If we lose you lose too," Dominguez answered significantly.

The tinkle of hoofs from the river bed in the gulch below rose through the
clear air. The Mexican moved swiftly to the door and presently waved a
handkerchief.

"What gent are you wig-wagging to now?" Luck asked from the bed. "Thought
I knew all you bold bad bandits by this time. Or is it Cass back again?"

"Yes, it's Cass. There's someone with him too. It is a woman," the Mexican
discovered in apparent surprise.

"A woman!" Luck took the cigar from his mouth in vague unease. "What is he
doing here with a woman?"