Suddenlyhethrewoffasombercastofcountenance，andhebegantotalk。Hetalkedswiftly，persuasively，yetDuaneimaginedhewastalkingtosmoothLawson’spassionforthemoment。Lawsonnomorecaughtthefatefulsignificanceofalinecrossed，alimitreached，adecreedecidedthanifhehadnotbeenpresent。Hewasobsessedwithhimself。How，Duanewondered，hadamanofhismindeverlivedsolongandgonesofaramongtheexactingconditionsoftheSouthwest？Theanswerwas，perhaps，thatLongstrethhadguidedhim，upheldhim，protectedhim。ThecomingofRayLongstrethhadbeentheentering—wedgeofdissension。
　　"You’retooimpatient，"concludedLongstreth。"You’llruinanychanceofhappinessifyourushRay。Shemightbewon。IfyoutoldherwhoIamshe’dhateyouforever。Shemightmarryyoutosaveme，butshe’dhateyou。Thatisn’ttheway。Wait。Playfortime。Bedifferentwithher。Cutoutyourdrinking。Shedespisesthat。Let’splantosellouthere——stock，ranch，property——andleavethecountry。Thenyou’dhaveashowwithher。"
　　"Itoldyouwe’vegottostick，"growledLawson。"Thegangwon’tstandforourgoing。Itcan’tbedoneunlessyouwanttosacrificeeverything。"
　　"Youmeandouble—crossthemen？Gowithouttheirknowing？Leavethemheretofacewhatevercomes？"
　　"Imeanjustthat。"
　　"I’mbadenough，butnotthatbad，"returnedLongstreth。"IfI
　　can’tgetthegangtoletmeoff，I’llstayandfacethemusic。
　　Allthesame，Lawson，diditeverstrikeyouthatmostofthedealsthelastfewyearshavebeenYOURS？"
　　"Yes。IfIhadn’trungthemintherewouldn’thavebeenany。
　　You’vehadcoldfeet，andespeciallysincethisrangerhasbeenhere。"
　　"Well，callitcoldfeetifyoulike。ButIcallitsense。Wereachedourlimitlongago。Webeganbyrustlingafewcattle——
　　atatimewhenrustlingwaslaughedat。Butasourgreedgrewsodidourboldness。Thencamethegang，theregulartrips，theonethingandanothertill，beforeweknewit——beforeIknewit——wehadshadydeals，holdups，andMURDERSonourrecord。
　　ThenweHADtogoon。Toolatetoturnback！"
　　"Ireckonwe’veallsaidthat。Noneofthegangwantstoquit。
　　Theyallthink，andIthink，wecan’tbetouched。Wemaybeblamed，butnothingcanbeproved。We’retoostrong。"
　　"There’swhereyou’redeadwrong，"rejoinedLongstreth，emphatically。"Iimaginedthatonce，notlongago。Iwasbullheaded。WhowouldeverconnectGrangerLongstrethwitharustlergang？I’vechangedmymind。I’vebeguntothink。I’vereasonedoutthings。We’recrooked，andwecan’tlast。It’sthenatureoflife，evenhere，forconditionstogrowbetter。Thewisedealforuswouldbetodivideequallyandleavethecountry，allofus。"
　　"ButyouandIhaveallthestock——allthegain，"protestedLawson。
　　"I’llsplitmine。"
　　"Iwon’t——thatsettlesthat，"addedLawson，instantly。
　　Longstrethspreadwidehishandsasifitwasuselesstotrytoconvincethisman。Talkinghadnotincreasedhiscalmness，andhenowshowedmorethanimpatience。Adullglintgleameddeepinhiseyes。
　　"Yourstockandpropertywilllastalongtime——doyoulotsofgoodwhenthisranger——"
　　"Bah！"hoarselycroakedLawson。Theranger’snamewasamatchappliedtopowder。"Haven’tItoldyouhe’dbedeadsoon——anytime——sameasLaramieis？"
　　"Yes，youmentionedthe——thesupposition，"repliedLongstreth，sarcastically。"Iinquired，too，justhowthatverydesiredeventwastobebroughtabout。"
　　"Thegangwilllayhimout。"
　　"Bah！"retortedLongstreth，inturn。Helaughedcontemptuously。
　　"Floyd，don’tbeafool。You’vebeenontheborderfortenyears。You’vepackedagunandyou’veusedit。You’vebeenwithrustlerswhentheykilledtheirmen。You’vebeenpresentatmanyfights。Butyouneverinallthattimesawamanlikethisranger。Youhaven’tgotsenseenoughtoseehimrightifyouhadachance。Neitherhaveanyofyou。Theonlywaytogetridofhimisforthegangtodrawonhim，allatonce。Thenhe’sgoingtodropsomeofthem。"
　　"Longstreth，yousaythatlikeamanwhowouldn’tcaremuchifhediddropsomeofthem，"declaredLawson;andnowhewassarcastic。
　　"Totellyouthetruth，Iwouldn’t，"returnedtheother，bluntly。"I’mprettysickofthismess。"
　　Lawsoncursedinamazement。Hisemotionswerealloutofproportiontohisintelligence。Hewasnotatallquick—witted。
　　Duanehadneverseenavainerormorearrogantman。
　　"Longstreth，Idon’tlikeyourtalk，"hesaid。
　　"Ifyoudon’tlikethewayItalkyouknowwhatyoucando，"
　　repliedLongstreth，quickly。Hestoodupthen，coolandquiet，withflashofeyesandsetoflipsthattoldDuanehewasdangerous。
　　"Well，afterall，that’sneitherherenorthere，"wentonLawson，unconsciouslycowedbytheother。"Thethingis，doI
　　getthegirl？"
　　"Notbyanymeansexceptherconsent。"
　　"You’llnotmakehermarryme？"
　　"No。No，"repliedLongstreth，hisvoicestillcold，low—pitched。
　　"Allright。ThenI’llmakeher。"
　　EvidentlyLongstrethunderstoodthemanbeforehimsowellthathewastednomorewords。DuaneknewwhatLawsonneverdreamedof，andthatwasthatLongstrethhadagunsomewherewithinreachandmeanttouseit。Thenheavyfootstepssoundedoutsidetrampingupontheporch。Duanemighthavebeenmistaken，buthebelievedthosefootstepssavedLawson’slife。
　　"Theretheyare，"saidLawson，andheopenedthedoor。
　　Fivemaskedmenentered。Theyallworecoatshidinganyweapons。AbigmanwithburlyshouldersshookhandswithLongstreth，andtheothersstoodback。
　　Theatmosphereofthatroomhadchanged。Lawsonmighthavebeenanonentityforallhecounted。Longstrethwasanotherman——astrangertoDuane。Ifhehadentertainedahopeoffreeinghimselffromthisband，ofgettingawaytoasafercountry，heabandoneditattheverysightofthesemen。Therewaspowerhere，andhewasbound。
　　Thebigmanspokeinlow，hoarsewhispers，andatthisalltheothersgatheredaroundhimclosetothetable。TherewereevidentlysomesignsofmembershipnotplaintoDuane。Thenalltheheadswerebentoverthetable。Lowvoicesspoke，queried，answered，argued。BystraininghisearsDuanecaughtawordhereandthere。Theywereplanning，andtheywerebrief。DuanegatheredtheyweretohavearendezvousatornearOrd。
　　Thenthebigman，whoevidentlywastheleaderofthepresentconvention，gotuptodepart。Hewentasswiftlyashehadcome，andwasfollowedbyhiscomrades。Longstrethpreparedforaquietsmoke。Lawsonseemeduncommunicativeandunsociable。Hesmokedfiercelyanddrankcontinually。Allatoncehestraightenedupasiflistening。
　　"What’sthat？"hecalled，suddenly。
　　Duane’sstrainedearswerepervadedbyaslightrustlingsound。
　　"Mustbearat，"repliedLongstreth。
　　Therustlebecamearattle。
　　"Soundslikearattlesnaketome，"saidLawson。
　　Longstrethgotupfromthetableandpeeredroundtheroom。
　　JustatthatinstantDuanefeltanalmostinappreciablemovementoftheadobewallwhichsupportedhim。Hecouldscarcelycredithissenses。ButtherattleinsideLongstreth’sroomwasminglingwithlittledullthudsoffallingdirt。Theadobewall，merelydriedmud，wascrumbling。Duanedistinctlyfeltatremorpassthroughit。Thenthebloodgushedbacktohisheart。
　　"Whatinthehell！"exclaimedLongstreth。
　　"Ismelldust，"saidLawson，sharply。
　　ThatwasthesignalforDuanetodropdownfromhisperch，yetdespitehiscarehemadeanoise。
　　"Didyouhearastep？"queriedLongstreth。
　　Nooneanswered。Butaheavypieceoftheadobewallfellwithathud。Duanehearditcrack，feltitshake。
　　"There’ssomebodybetweenthewalls！"thunderedLongstreth。
　　Thenasectionofthewallfellinwardwithacrash。Duanebegantosqueezehisbodythroughthenarrowpassagetowardthepatio。
　　"Hearhim！"yelledLawson。"Thisside！"
　　"No，he’sgoingthatway，"yelledLongstreth。
　　ThetrampofheavybootslentDuanethestrengthofdesperation。Hewasnotshirkingafight，buttobecorneredlikeatrappedcoyotewasanothermatter。Healmosttorehisclothesoffinthatpassage。Thedustnearlystifledhim。Whenheburstintothepatioitwasnotasingleinstanttoosoon。
　　Butonedeepgaspofbreathrevivedhimandhewasup，guninhand，runningfortheoutletintothecourt。Thumpingfootstepsturnedhimback。Whiletherewasachancetogetawayhedidnotwanttofight。Hethoughtheheardsomeonerunningintothepatiofromtheotherend。Hestolealong，andcomingtoadoor，withoutanyideaofwhereitmightlead，hesoftlypusheditopenalittlewayandslippedin。
　　CHAPTERXX
　　AlowcrygreetedDuane。Theroomwaslight。HesawRayLongstrethsittingonherbedinherdressing—gown。Withawarninggesturetohertobesilentheturnedtoclosethedoor。Itwasaheavydoorwithoutboltorbar，andwhenDuanehadshutithefeltsafeonlyforthemoment。Thenhegazedaroundtheroom。Therewasonewindowwithblindcloselydrawn。
　　Helistenedandseemedtohearfootstepsretreating，dyingaway。
　　ThenDuaneturnedtoMissLongstreth。Shehadslippedoffthebed，halftoherknees，andwasholdingouttremblinghands。
　　Shewasaswhiteasthepillowonherbed。Shewasterriblyfrightened。Againwithwarninghandcommandingsilence，Duanesteppedsoftlyforward，meaningtoreassureher。
　　"Oh！"shewhispered，wildly;andDuanethoughtshewasgoingtofaint。Whenhegotcloseandlookedintohereyesheunderstoodthestrange，darkexpressioninthem。Shewasterrifiedbecauseshebelievedhemeanttokillher，ordoworse，probablyworse。
　　Duanerealizedhemusthavelookedprettyhardandfierceburstingintoherroomwiththatbigguninhand。
　　ThewayshesearchedDuane’sfacewithdoubtful，fearfuleyeshurthim。
　　"Listen。Ididn’tknowthiswasyourroom。Icameheretogetaway——tosavemylife。Iwaspursued。Iwasspyingon——onyourfatherandhismen。Theyheardme，butdidnotseeme。Theydon’tknowwhowaslistening。They’reaftermenow。"
　　Hereyeschangedfromblankgulfstodilating，shadowing。
　　quickeningwindowsofthought。
　　ThenshestoodupandfacedDuanewiththefireandintelligenceofawomaninhereyes。
　　"Tellmenow。Youwerespyingonmyfather？"
　　BrieflyDuanetoldherwhathadhappenedbeforeheenteredherroom，notomittingatersewordastothecharacterofthemenhehadwatched。
　　"MyGod！Soit’sthat？Iknewsomethingwasterriblywronghere——withhim——withtheplace——thepeople。AndrightoffI
　　hatedFloydLawson。Oh，it’llkillmeif——if——It’ssomuchworsethanIdreamed。WhatshallIdo？"
　　ThesoundofsoftstepssomewhereneardistractedDuane’sattention，remindedhimofherperil，andnow，whatcountedmorewithhim，madecleartheprobabilityofbeingdiscoveredinherroom。
　　"I’llhavetogetoutofhere，"whisperedDuane。
　　"Wait，"shereplied。"Didn’tyousaytheywerehuntingforyou？"
　　"Theysureare，"hereturned，grimly。
　　"Oh，thenyoumustn’tgo。Theymightshootyoubeforeyougotaway。Stay。Ifwehearthemyoucanhide。I’llturnoutthelight。I’llmeetthematthedoor。Youcantrustme。Waittillallquietsdown，ifwehavetowaittillmorning。Thenyoucanslipout。"
　　"Ioughtn’ttostay。Idon’twantto——Iwon’t，"Duanereplied，perplexedandstubborn。
　　"Butyoumust。It’stheonlysafeway。Theywon’tcomehere。"
　　"Supposetheyshould？It’sanevenchanceLongstreth’llsearcheveryroomandcornerinthisoldhouse。IftheyfoundmehereIcouldn’tstartafight。Youmightbehurt。Then——thefactofmybeinghere——"
　　Duanedidnotfinishwhathemeant，butinsteadmadeasteptowardthedoor。Whiteoffaceanddarkofeye，shetookholdofhimtodetainhim。Shewasasstrongandsuppleasapanther。Butsheneednothavebeeneitherresoluteorstrong，fortheclaspofherhandwasenoughtomakeDuaneweak。
　　"Upyet，Ray？"cameLongstreth’sclearvoice，toostrained，tooeagertobenatural。
　　"No。I’minbedreading。Goodnight，"instantlyrepliedMissLongstreth，socalmlyandnaturallythatDuanemarveledatthedifferencebetweenmanandwoman。ThenshemotionedforDuanetohideinthecloset。Heslippedin，butthedoorwouldnotclosealtogether。
　　"Areyoualone？"wentonLongstreth’spenetratingvoice。
　　"Yes，"shereplied。"Ruthwenttobed。"
　　Thedoorswunginwardwithaswiftscrapeandjar。Longstrethhalfentered，haggard，flaming—eyed。BehindhimDuanesawLawson，andindistinctlyanotherman。
　　LongstrethbarredLawsonfromentering，whichactionshowedcontrolaswellasdistrust。Hewantedtoseeintotheroom。
　　Whenhehadglancedaroundhewentoutandclosedthedoor。
　　Thenwhatseemedalongintervalensued。Thehousegrewsilentoncemore。DuanecouldnotseeMissLongstreth，butheheardherquickbreathing。Howlongdidshemeantolethimstayhiddenthere？Hardandperilousashislifehadbeen，thiswasanewkindofadventure。Hehaddivinedthestrangesoftnessofhisfeelingassomethingduetothemagnetismofthisbeautifulwoman。Ithardlyseemedpossiblethathe，whohadbeenoutsidethepaleforsomanyyears，couldhavefalleninlove。Yetthatmustbethesecretofhisagitation。
　　Presentlyhepushedopentheclosetdoorandsteppedforth。
　　MissLongstrethhadherheadlowereduponherarmsandappearedtobeindistress。Athistouchsheraisedaquiveringface。
　　"IthinkIcangonow——safely，"hewhispered。
　　"Gothen，ifyoumust，butyoumaystaytillyou’resafe，"shereplied。
　　"I——Icouldn’tthankyouenough。It’sbeenhardonme——thisfindingout——andyouhisdaughter。Ifeelstrange。Idon’tunderstandmyselfwell。ButIwantyoutoknow——ifIwerenotanoutlaw——aranger——I’dlaymylifeatyourfeet。"
　　"Oh！Youhaveseenso——solittleofme，"shefaltered。
　　"Allthesameit’strue。Andthatmakesmefeelmorethetroublemycomingcausedyou。"
　　"Youwillnotfightmyfather？"
　　"NotifIcanhelpit。I’mtryingtogetoutofhisway。’
　　"Butyouspieduponhim。"
　　"Iamaranger，MissLongstreth。"
　　"Andoh！Iamarustler’sdaughter，"shecried。"That’ssomuchmoreterriblethanI’dsuspected。ItwastrickycattledealsI
　　imaginedhewasengagedin。Butonlyto—nightIhadstrongsuspicionsaroused。"
　　"How？Tellme。"
　　"IoverheardFloydsaythatmenwerecomingto—nighttoarrangeameetingformyfatheratarendezvousnearOrd。Fatherdidnotwanttogo。Floydtauntedhimwithaname。"
　　"Whatname？"queriedDuane。
　　"ItwasCheseldine。"
　　"CHESELDINE！MyGod！MissLongstreth，whydidyoutellmethat？"
　　"Whatdifferencedoesthatmake？"
　　"YourfatherandCheseldineareoneandthesame，"whisperedDuane，hoarsely。
　　"Igatheredsomuchmyself，"shereplied，miserably。"ButLongstrethisfather’srealname。"
　　Duanefeltsostunnedhecouldnotspeakatonce。Itwasthegirl’spartinthistragedythatweakenedhim。TheinstantshebetrayedthesecretDuanerealizedperfectlythathedidloveher。Theemotionwaslikeagreatflood。
　　"MissLongstreth，allthisseemssounbelievable，"hewhispered。"CheseldineistherustlerchiefI’vecomeoutheretoget。He’sonlyaname。Yourfatheristherealman。I’vesworntogethim。I’mboundbymorethanlaworoaths。Ican’tbreakwhatbindsme。AndImustdisgraceyou——wreckyourliferWhy，MissLongstreth，IbelieveI——Iloveyou。It’sallcomeinarush。I’ddieforyouifIcould。Howfatal——terrible——thisis！Howthingsworkout！"
　　Sheslippedtoherknees，withherhandsonhis。
　　"Youwon’tkillhim？"sheimplored。"Ifyoucareforme——youwon’tkillhim？"
　　"No。ThatIpromiseyou。"
　　Withalowmoanshedroppedherheaduponthebed。
　　Duaneopenedthedoorandstealthilystoleoutthroughthecorridortothecourt。
　　WhenDuanegotoutintothedark，wherehishotfacecooledinthewind，hisreliefequaledhisotherfeelings。
　　Thenightwasdark，windy，stormy，yettherewasnorain。Duanehopedassoonashegotclearoftheranchtolosesomethingofthepainhefelt。Butlongafterhehadtrampedoutintotheopentherewasalumpinhisthroatandanacheinhisbreast。
　　AllhisthoughtcenteredaroundRayLongstreth。Whatawomanshehadturnedouttobe！Heseemedtohaveavague，hopelesshopethattheremightbe，theremustbe，somewayhecouldsaveher。
　　CHAPTERXXI
　　BeforegoingtosleepthatnightDuanehaddecidedtogotoOrdandtrytofindtherendezvouswhereLongstrethwastomeethismen。ThesemenDuanewantedevenmorethantheirleader。IfLongstreth，orCheseldine，wasthebrainsofthatgang，Pogginwastheexecutor。ItwasPogginwhoneededtobefoundandstopped。Pogginandhisright—handmen！Duaneexperiencedastrange，tigerishthrill。ItwasthoughtofPogginmorethanthoughtofsuccessforMacNelly’splan。Duanefeltdubiousoverthisemotion。
　　NextdayhesetoutforBradford。HewasgladtogetawayfromFairdaleforawhile。Butthehoursandthemilesinnowisechangedthenewpaininhisheart。TheonlywayhecouldforgetMissLongstrethwastolethisminddwelluponPoggin，andeventhiswasnotalwayseffective。
　　HeavoidedSanderson，andattheendofthedayandahalfhearrivedatBradford。
　　ThenightofthedaybeforehereachedBradford，No。6，themailandexpresstraingoingeast，washeldupbytrain—robbers，theWells—Fargomessengerkilledoverhissafe，themail—clerkwounded，thebagscarriedaway。TheengineofNo。6cameintotownminusevenatender，andengineerandfiremantoldconflictingstories。Aposseofrailroadmenandcitizens，ledbyasheriffDuanesuspectedwascrooked，wasmadeupbeforetheenginesteamedbacktopickuptherestofthetrain。Duanehadthesuddeninspirationthathehadbeencudgelinghismindtofind;and，actinguponit，hemountedhishorseagainandleftBradfordunobserved。Asherodeoutintothenight，overadarktrailinthedirectionofOrd，heutteredashort，grim，sardoniclaughatthehopethathemightbetakenforatrain—robber。
　　Herodeataneasytrotmostofthenight，andwhentheblackpeakofOrdMountainloomedupagainstthestarshehalted，tiedhishorse，andsleptuntildawn。Hehadbroughtasmallpack，andnowhetookhistimecookingbreakfast。WhenthesunwaswelluphesaddledBullet，and，leavingthetrailwherehistracksshowedplainintheground，heputhishorsetotherocksandbrush。Heselectedanexceedinglyrough，roundabout，anddifficultcoursetoOrd，hidhistrackswiththeskillofalong—huntedfugitive，andarrivedtherewithhishorsewindedandcoveredwithlather。ItaddedconsiderabletohisarrivalthatthemanDuanerememberedasFletcherandseveralotherssawhimcomeinthebackwaythroughthelotsandjumpafenceintotheroad。
　　DuaneledBulletuptotheporchwhereFletcherstoodwipinghisbeard。Hewashatless，vestless，andevidentlyhadjustenjoyedamorningdrink。
　　"Howdy，Dodge，"saidFletcher，laconically。
　　Duanereplied，andtheothermanreturnedthegreetingwithinterest。
　　"Jim，myhoss’sdoneup。Iwanttohidehimfromanychancetouristsasmighthappentorideupcurious—like。"
　　"Haw！haw！haw！"
　　Duanegatheredencouragementfromthatchorusofcoarselaughter。
　　"Wal，ifthemtouristsain’ttoodurnedsnookythehoss’llbesafeinthe’dobeshackbackofBill’shere。Feedthar，too，butyou’llhevtorustlewater。"
　　DuaneledBullettotheplaceindicated，hadcareofhiswelfare，andlefthimthere。UponreturningtothetavernporchDuanesawthegroupofmenhadbeenaddedtobyothers，someofwhomhehadseenbefore。WithoutcommentDuanewalkedalongtheedgeoftheroad，andwhereveroneofthetracksofhishorseshowedhecarefullyobliteratedit。ThisprocedurewasattentivelywatchedbyFletcherandhiscompanions。
　　"Wal，Dodge，"remarkedFletcher，asDuanereturned，"thet’ssafer’nprayin’ferrain。"
　　DuanesreplywasaremarkasloquaciousasFletcher’s，totheeffectthatalong，slow，monotonousridewasconducivetothirst。Theyalljoinedhim，unmistakablyfriendly。ButKnellwasnotthere，andmostassuredlynotPoggin。Fletcherwasnocommonoutlaw，but，whateverhisability，itprobablylayinexecutionoforders。Apparentlyatthattimethesemenhadnothingtodobutdrinkandloungearoundthetavern。Evidentlytheywerepoorlysuppliedwithmoney，thoughDuaneobservedtheycouldborrowapesooccasionallyfromthebartender。Duanesetouttomakehimselfagreeableandsucceeded。Therewascard—playingforsmallstakes，idlejestsofcoarsenature，muchbanteringamongtheyoungerfellows，andoccasionallyamildquarrel。Allmorningmencameandwent，until，alltold，Duanecalculatedhehadseenatleastfifty。Towardthemiddleoftheafternoonayoungfellowburstintothesaloonandyelledoneword:
　　"Posse！"
　　FromthescrambletogetoutdoorsDuanejudgedthatwordandtheensuingactionwasrareinOrd。
　　"Whatthehell！"mutteredFletcher，ashegazeddowntheroadatadark，compactbunchofhorsesandriders。"FusttimeI
　　everseenthetinOrd！We’regettin’popularlikethemcampsoutofValentine。WishPhilwashereorPoggy。Nowallyougentskeepquiet。I’lldothetalkin’。"
　　Theposseenteredthetown，trottedupondustyhorses，andhaltedinabunchbeforethetavern。Thepartyconsistedofabouttwentymen，allheavilyarmed，andevidentlyinchargeofaclean—cut，lean—limbedcowboy。Duaneexperiencedconsiderablesatisfactionattheabsenceofthesheriffwhohehadunderstoodwastoleadtheposse。Perhapshewasoutinanotherdirectionwithadifferentforce。
　　"Hello，JimFletcher，"calledthecowboy。
　　"Howdy，"repliedFletcher。
　　Athisshort，dryresponseandthewayhestrodeleisurelyoutbeforetheposseDuanefoundhimselfmodifyinghiscontemptforFletcher。Theoutlawwasdifferentnow。
　　"Fletcher，we’vetrackedamantoallbutthreemilesofthisplace。Tracksasplainasthenoseonyourface。Foundhiscamp。Thenhehitintothebrush，an’welostthetrail。Didn’thavenotrackerwithus。Thinkhewentintothemountains。Butwetookachancean’ridovertherestoftheway，seein’Ordwassoclose。Anybodycomeinherelatelastnightorearlythismornin’？"
　　"Nope，"repliedFletcher。
　　HisresponsewaswhatDuanehadexpectedfromhismanner，andevidentlythecowboytookitasamatterofcourse。Heturnedtotheothersoftheposse，enteringintoalowconsultation。
　　Evidentlytherewasdifferenceofopinion，ifnotrealdissension，inthatposse。
　　"Didn’tItellyethiswasawild—goosechase，comin’wayouthere？"protestedanoldhawk—facedrancher。"Themhosstrackswefolloredain’tlikeanyofthemweseenatthewater—tankwherethetrainwasheldup。"
　　"I’mnotsosureofthat，"repliedtheleader。
　　"Wal，Guthrie，I’vefolloredtracksallmylife——’
　　"Butyoucouldn’tkeeptothetrailthisfellermadeinthebrush。"
　　"Gimmetime，an’Icould。Thettakestime。An’heahyougohell—bentferelection！Butit’sawrongleadoutthisway。Ifyou’rerightthisroad—agent，afterhekilledhispals，wouldhevridbackrightthroughtown。An’withthemmail—bags！
　　Supposin’theywasgreasers？Somegreasershassense，an’whenitcomestothievin’they’reshorecute。"
　　"Butwesentgotanyreasontobelievethisrobberwhomurderedthegreasersisagreaserhimself。Itellyouitwasaslickjobdonebynoordinarysneak。Didn’tyouhearthefacts？Onegreaserhoppedtheenginean’coveredtheengineeran’fireman。
　　Anothergreaserkeptflashin’hisgunoutsidethetrain。Thebigmanwhoshovedbackthecar—dooran’didthekillin’——hewastherealgent，an’don’tyouforgetit。"
　　Someofthepossesidedwiththecowboyleaderandsomewiththeoldcattleman。Finallytheyoungleaderdisgustedlygathereduphisbridle。
　　"Aw，hell！Thetsheriffshovedyouoffthistrail。MebbehehedreasonsSavvythet？IfIhedabunchofcowboyswithme——Itellyouwhat——I’dtakeachancean’cleanupthishole！"
　　AllthewhileJimFletcherstoodquietlywithhishandsinhispockets。
　　"Guthrie，I’mshoretreasurin’upyourfriendlytalk，"hesaid。
　　Themenacewasinthetone，notthecontentofhisspeech。
　　"Youcan——an’bedamnedtoyou，Fletcher！"calledGuthrie，asthehorsesstarted。
　　Fletcher，standingoutalonebeforetheothersofhisclan，watchedtheposseoutofsight。
　　"Luckferyou—allthetPoggywasn’there，"hesaid，astheydisappeared。ThenwithathoughtfulmienhestrodeupontheporchandledDuaneawayfromtheothersintothebar—room。
　　WhenhelookedintoDuane’sfaceitwassomehowanentirelychangedscrutiny。
　　"Dodge，where’dyouhidethestuff？IreckonIgitinonthisdeal，seein’IstavedoffGuthrie。"
　　Duaneplayedhispart。Herewashisatigerafterpreyheseizedit。Firsthecoollyeyedtheoutlawandthendisclaimedanyknowledgewhateverofthetrain—robberyotherthanFletcherhadheardhimself。ThenatFletcher’spersistenceandadmirationandincreasingshowoffriendlinesshelaughedoccasionallyandallowedhimselftoswellwithpride，thoughstilldenying。Nexthefeignedalackofconsistentwill—powerandseemedtobewaveringunderFletcher’spersuasionandgrewsilent，thensurly。Fletcher，evidentlysureofultimatevictory，desistedforthetimebeing;however，inhissolicitousregardandclosecompanionshipfortherestofthatdayhebetrayedthebentofhismind。