en.

"Whose money?" asked the one-armed man cynically.

It struck him as an ironic jest that the money they had got from the sale
of Homer Webb's cattle should be spent to bring about the lynching of the
man who had killed him.

Both the sheriff and his deputy were out of town rounding up a half-breed
Mexican who had stabbed another at a dance. They reached Live-Oaks with
their prisoner about the middle of the afternoon. Lee was waiting for
them impatiently at the court-house.

"They're planning to lynch Jim," she told Prince abruptly.

"Who's goin' to do all that?" he asked.

"The riff-raff of the county are back of it, but the worst of it is that
they've got a lot of good people in with them. Some of the Flying V Y
riders are in town too. I never saw so much drinking before."

"When is it to be?"

"I don't know."

"Who told you?"

"Bud Proctor. He says Yankie and Albeen and that crowd are spending
hundreds of dollars at the bars."

"I knew there was somethin' on foot soon as we hit town--felt it in the
air." The sheriff looked at his watch. "We can just catch the afternoon
train, Jack. Take this bird downstairs an' lock him up. I'll join you in
a minute."

"What are you going to do?" asked Lee as soon as they were alone.

"Goin' to slip Jim aboard the train an' take him to Santa Fe."

"Can you do it without being seen?"

"I'll tell you that later," he answered with a grim smile. "Much obliged,
honey. I'm goin' to be right busy now, but I'll see you soon as I get
back to town."

Lee nodded good-bye and wait out. She liked it in him that just now he
had no time even for her. From the door she glanced back. Already he was
busy getting his guns ready.

Prince got his keys and unlocked the room where Clanton was. Jim was on
the bed reading an old newspaper.

"Hello, Billie," he grinned.

"We're leaving on the afternoon train, Jim. Get a move on you an' hustle
yore things together."

"Thought you weren't goin' till next week."

"Changed my mind. Jim, there's trouble afoot. Yore enemies are all in
town. I want to get you away."

Clanton did not bat an eye. "Plannin' a necktie party, are they?"

"They've got notions. Mine are different." "Do I get a gun if it comes to
a showdown, Billie?"

"You do. I'll appoint you a deputy."

Jim laughed. "That sounds reasonable."

Goodheart joined them. The three men left the back door of the
court-house and cut across the square. The station was three blo