e had been wholly dominated by
Hardman. Yet there was the matter of accepting money for his part in
forcing Lucy to marry Dick.

The nearer end of the bar had almost imperceptibly been vacated by
drinkers sliding down toward the other rear end. Pan took the foremost
end of the vacated position. He called for drink. As fast as he had
drunk, the fiery effects had as swiftly passed away. Yet each drink
for the moment kept up that unnatural stimulus.

Pan beckoned for Blinky. That worthy caused a stir, then a silence, by
going round about the tables, so as not to come between Pan and any men
there.

"Blink, do you know where Louise's room is?" queried Pan.

"Shore. Down thish hall--third door on left," replied Blinky.

"Well, you go over there to Blake and tell him I want to talk to him.
Then you go to Louise's room. I'll follow directly."

Blake received the message, but he did not act promptly. Pan caught
his suspicious eye, baleful, gleaming. Possibly the man was worse than
weak. Presently he left the poker game which he had been watching and
shuffled up to Pan. He appeared to be enough under the influence of
liquor to be leeringly bold.

"Howdy," he said.

"Blake, today I got from Hardman the truth about the deal you gave me
and Lucy," returned Pan, and then in cold deliberate tones he called
the man every infamous name known to the ranges. Under this onslaught,
Blake sank into something akin to abasement.

"Reckon you think," concluded Pan, "that because you're Lucy's father I
can't take a shot at you. Don't fool yourself. You've killed her
soul--and mine. So why shouldn't I kill you? ... Well, there isn't
any reason except that away from Hardman's influence you might brace
up. I'll take the chance. You're done in Marco. Jard Hardman is dead
and Dick's chances of seeing the sun rise are damn thin.... Now you
rustle out that door and out of Marco. When you make a man of yourself
come to Siccane, Arizona."

Blake lurched himself erect, and met Pan's glance with astonished
bewildered eyes; then he wheeled to march out of the saloon.

Pan turned into the hallway leading into the hotel part of the
building, and soon encountered Blinky leaning against the wall.

"Blink, isn't she in?" asked Pan, low voiced and eager.

"Shore, but she won't open the door," replied Blinky dejectedly.

Pan knocked and called low: "Louise, let us in."

There was a long wait, then came a low voice: "No."