ld do that right was th' man who invented it, Mr.
Bowie, of Texas," explained Mr. Cassidy to the other Mexican. Then he
glanced at the broncho, that was squealing in rage and fear at the shot,
which sounded like a cannon in the small room, and laughed.

"That's my cayuse, all right, an' he wasn't up no cactus nor roostin' on
th' roof, neither. He's th' most affectionate beast I ever saw. It took
me nigh onto six months afore I could ride him without fighting him to a
standstill," said Mr. Cassidy to his guest. Then he turned to the horse
and looked it over. "Come here! What d'yu mean, acting thataway? Yu
ragged end of nothin' wobbling in space! Yu wall-eyed, ornery, locoed
guide to Hades! Yu won't be so frisky when yu've made them seventy hot
miles between here an' Alkaline in five hours," he promised, as he made
his way toward the animal.

Mr. Travennes walked over to the opposite wall and took down a pouch
of tobacco which hung from a peg. He did this in a manner suggesting
ownership, and after he had deftly rolled a cigarette with one hand he
put the pouch in his pocket and, lighting up, inhaled deeply and with
much satisfaction. Mr. Cassidy turned around and glanced the group over,
wondering if the tobacco had been left in the hut on a former call.

"Did yu find yore makings?" He asked, with a note of congratulations in
his voice.

"Yep. Want one?" Asked Mr. Travennes.

Mr. Cassidy ignored the offer and turned to the guard whom he had found
asleep.

"Is that his tobacco?" He asked, and the guard, anxious to make
everything run smoothly, told the truth and answered:

"Shore. He left it here last night," whereupon Mr. Travennes swore and
Mr. Cassidy smiled grimly.

"Then yu knows how yore cayuse got in an' how mine got out," said the
latter. "I wish yu would explain," he added, fondling his Colts.

Mr. Travennes frowned and remained silent.

"I can tell yu, anyhow," continued Mr. Cassidy, still smiling, but his
eyes and jaw belied the smile. "Yu took them cayuses out because yu
wanted yourn to be found in their places. Yu remembered Santa Fe an'
it rankled in yu. Not being man enough to notify me that yu'd shoot on
sight an' being afraid my friends would get yu if yu plugged me on th'
sly, yu tried to make out that me an' Red rustled yore cayuses. That
meant a lynching with me an' Red in th' places of honor. Yu never saw
Red afore, but yu didn't care if he went with me. Yu don't deserve fair
play, but I'm