ed Sim as the two shivered and
drank whiskey to keep themselves warm in that abandoned shack where they
were never so incautious as to light a fire. "Any time this feller
Parish finds out I shot him, he'll turn on me an' kill me. Thar hain't
but jest one safe way out. Let me finish up ther job an' rest easy."

Bas Rowlett shook his head decisively.

"When I gits ready ter hev ye do thet," he ruled, imperiously, "I'll let
ye know. Right now hit's ther last thing I'd countenance."

"I kain't no fashion make ye out," complained Sim. "Ye hired me ter do
ther job an' blackguarded me fer failin'. Now ye acks like ye war paid
ter pertect ther feller from peril."

Rowlett scowled. It was not his policy to confide in his Myrmidons, yet
with an adherent who knew as much as Squires it was well to have the
confidential seeming.

"Things hev changed, Sim," he explained. "Any heedless killin's right
now would bring on a heap of trouble afore I'm ready fer hit--but ye
hain't no more fretful ter hev him die then what I be--an' thet's what
we're buildin' up this hyar night-rider outfit ter do."

"Thet's another thing thet disquiets me, though," objected Squires. "I'm
es deep inter thet es anybody else, an' them fellers, Thornton and Old
Hump, hain't nuver goin' ter rest twell they penitensheries some of ther
head men."

Bas Rowlett laughed, then with such a confidential manner as he rarely
bestowed upon a subordinate, he laid a hand on his hireling's arm.
"Thet's all right, Sim. Ther penitenshery's a right fit an' becomin'
place fer them men, when ye comes ter study hit out. We hain't objectin'
ter thet ourselves--in due time."

Sim Squires drew back and his face became for the moment
terror-stricken. "What does ye mean?" he demanded, tensely, "does ye aim
ter let me sulter out my days in convict-stripes because I've done
s'arved yore eends?"

But Bas Rowlett shook his head.

"Not you, Sim," he gave assurance. "I'm goin' ter tek keer of _you_ all
right--but when ther rest of 'em hev done what we wants, we hain't got
no further use fer them riders. Atter thet they'll jest be a pest an'
burden ter us ef they goes on terrifyin' everybody."

"I don't no fashion comprehend ye, but I've got ter know whar I stands
at." There was a momentary stiffening of the creature's moral backbone
and the employer hastened to smooth away his anxiety.

"I hain't nuver drapped no hint of this ter no man afore," he confided,
"but me an' you air