ry night. And I've seen men killed--dragged out. But this got my
nerve."

"It wasn't much to be excited about. I didn't expect any fight."

"Your idea was to show up Hardman and Matthews before the crowd. You
sure did. The crowd was with you. And so am I, Panhandle Smith." She
held out a slim hand. "I've got to dance. Good night."

CHAPTER TEN

Pan's exit from the Yellow Mine was remarkable for the generous space
accorded him by its occupants.

Outside he laughed a little, as he stood under the flare of yellow
light and rolled a cigarette. Knots of men stood on the corners of the
street. But the area in front of the saloon was significantly vacant.

"Now if Dad had only been there," soliloquized Pan. "That might have
put some life in him."

He sauntered down into the street, and as he went he heard the jangle
of spurs behind him. Blinky and Gus covering his rear! Presently,
beyond the circle of yellow light, they joined him, one on each side.

"Wal, Pan, I was shore in on thet," said Blink, gripping Pan's arm.

"Say, you called 'em flat. Made 'em swaller a hell of a lot," added
Gus, with a hard note in his voice. "When it come down to hard pan
they wasn't there."

"Pan, you remember me tellin' you aboot Purcell, who jumped my claim
with young Hardman?" queried Blinky. "Wal, Purcell was there, settin'
some tables back of where you made your stand. I seen him when we
first went in. Course everybody quit playin' cards when you called old
Hardman. An' I made it my particular biz to get close to Purcell. He
was pullin' his gun under the table when I kicked him. An' when he
looked up he seen somethin', you can bet on thet.... Wal, Purcell is
one man in Hardman's outfit we'll have to kill.... Gus will back me up
on thet."

"I shore will. Purcell's a Nevada claim jumper, accordin' to talk.
Somebody hinted he belonged to thet Plummer gang thet was cleaned out
at Bannock years ago. He's no spring chicken, thet's shore."

"Point Purcell out to me the first chance you get," replied Pan.
"Don't figure I expect to bluff everybody. It can't be done. Somebody
will try me out--if only to see what I can do. That's the game, you
know."

"Hell, yes. An' all you got to do, Pan, is to be there first."

"Reckon tomorrow will be shore interestin'," remarked Gus.

"That girl Louise gave me a hunch," said Pan thoughtfully. "Struck me
she was square.--Blink, you've talked to her, of course?"