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。