edar log blazing cheerily in the wide fireplace, for
these early spring nights in the desert were cold.

Brackton was the last guest to arrive. He shuffled in without answering
the laconic greetings accorded him, and his usually mild eyes seemed
keen and hard.

"John, I reckon you won't love me fer this here I've got to tell you,
to-night specially," he said, seriously.

"You old robber, I couldn't love you anyhow," retorted Bostil. But his
humor did not harmonize with the sudden gravity of his look. "What's
up?"

"Who do you suppose I jest sold whisky to?"

"I've no idea," replied Bostil. Yet he looked as if he was perfectly
sure.

"Cordts! ... Cordts, an' four of his outfit. Two of them I didn't know.
Bad men, judgin' from appearances, let alone company. The others was
Hutchinson an'--Dick Sears."

"DICK SEARS!" exclaimed Bostil.

Muncie and Williams echoed Bostil. Holley appeared suddenly interested.
Creech alone showed no surprise.

"But Sears is dead," added Bostil.

"He was dead--we thought," replied Brackton, with a grim laugh. "But
he's alive again. He told me he'd been in Idaho fer two years, in the
gold-fields. Said the work was too hard, so he'd come back here.
Laughed when he said it, the little devil! I'll bet he was thinkin' of
thet wagon-train of mine he stole."

Bostil gazed at his chief rider.

"Wal, I reckon we didn't kill Sears, after all," replied Holley. "I
wasn't never sure."

"Lord! Cordts an' Sears in camp," ejaculated Bostil, and he began to
pace the room.

"No, they're gone now," said Brackton.

"Take it easy, boss. Sit down," drawled Holley. "The King is safe, an'
all the racers. I swear to thet. Why, Cordts couldn't chop into thet
log-an'-wire corral if he an' his gang chopped all night! They hate
work. Besides, Farlane is there, an' the boys."

This reassured Bostil, and he resumed his chair. But his hand shook a
little.

"Did Cordts have anythin' to say?" he asked.

"Sure. He was friendly an' talkative," replied Brackton. "He came in
just after dark. Left a man I didn't see out with the hosses. He bought
two big packs of supplies, an' some leather stuff, an', of course,
ammunition. Then some whisky. Had plenty of gold an' wouldn't take no
change. Then while his men, except Sears, was carryin' out the stuff,
he talked."

"Go on. Tell me," said Bostil.

"Wal, he'd been out north of Durango an' fetched news. There's wild
talk back there of a railroad goin' to be bu