foolin' around as
or'nary cowboys, but wearin' face masks; an' another as they travels in
a faked-up conveyance that strangers might mistake for a stage coach.
But all agree that they're just desp'rate chara'ters all round. As to
who they are, well, I dunno no more'n you. All I knows is that one o'
the wust of the hull gang's a man named Nick Undrell."

"Nick Undrell?" Kiddie repeated the name as if it were new to him.
"Well, I guess Nick won't interfere with me any. Good evenin', boss.
I shall be here on time. Don't worry."

He stabled his pony in the town, and, as the night was fine and it was
not yet late, he strolled out on foot for a walk along the Little
Laramie River. At a distance of about a mile he entered a pine wood,
made his way among the trees, and at length halted in front of a
cunningly hidden shanty. He stood listening and watching. He heard
the rattle of dice. There was a screened light in the window, but it
was hurriedly extinguished when he knocked.

After a long delay the door was cautiously opened by a man wearing a
mask. A strong smell of tobacco smoke and spirits came from within.

"Nick Undrell is here," said Kiddie, looking into the muzzle of a
revolver held close to his face. "I heard his voice. Put aside that
gun and tell him to come to the door. Tell him it's Lord Saint Olave."

The masked man within the doorway scrutinized the unexpected and
evidently unwelcome visitor, at whom he still held his menacing
revolver.

"Tell him it's Lord Saint Olave," Kiddie repeated in a level, insistent
voice.

At mention of this name the man slowly lowered his gun and drew back a
step, opening the door a trifle wider.

"Lord Saint Olave?" he muttered in surprise. "Lord Saint
Olave--here--at this time o' night! Wantin' ter see----" He removed
the black cloth mask that had hidden his face--"Wantin' ter see me?"

"Yes, Nick. That's why I'm here," returned Kiddie. "I want to see you
kind of private. You've no occasion t' be alarmed. I'm not in the
vigilance service, you know. Thought I'd just saunter along and have a
jaw with you, that's all."

"Come right in, sir," said Nick, now holding the door wide open. "I
got a few friends here; but they was jus' quittin' when you knocked."

Kiddie followed him within the darkness. The light in the room was
then turned up, and he saw four evil-looking men busily pulling off
their masks, putting away their pistols, and sweeping their play