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uld probably slip out of town undetected. The recklessness of his nature found an appeal in the danger. "Damfidon't trail along, Dug." "Yore say-so about that." "Like to see my own picture on the poles. Sawed-off li'l runt. Straight black hair. Some bowlegged. Wears two guns real low. Doncha monkey with him onless you're hell-a-mile with a six-shooter. One thousand dollars reward for arrest and conviction. Same for the big guy." "Fellow that gets one o' them rewards will earn it," said Doble grimly. "Goes double," agreed Shorty. "He'll earn it even if he don't live to spend it. Which he's liable not to." They headed their horses to the west. As they drew down from the mountains they left the trail and took to the brush. They wound in and out among the mesquite and the cactus, bearing gradually to the north and into the foothills above the town. When they reached Frio Canon they swung off into a timbered pocket debouching from it. Here they unsaddled and lay down to wait for night. CHAPTER XXXIV A PLEASANT EVENING Brad Steelman sat hunched before a fire of pinon knots, head drooped low between his high, narrow shoulders. The restless black eyes in the dark hatchet face were sunk deeper now than in the old days. In them was beginning to come the hunted look of the gray wolf he resembled. His nerves were not what they had been, and even in his youth they were not of the best. He had a way of looking back furtively over his shoulder, as though some sinister shadow were creeping toward him out of the darkness. Three taps on the window brought his head up with a jerk. His lax fingers crept to the butt of a Colt's revolver. He waited, listening. The taps were repeated. Steelman sidled to the door and opened it cautiously. A man pushed in and closed the door. He looked at the sheepman and he laughed shortly in an ugly, jeering way. "Scared, Brad?" The host moistened his lips. "What of, Dug?" "Don't ask me," said the big man scornfully. "You always had about as much sand in yore craw as a rabbit." "Did you come here to make trouble, Dug?" "No, I came to collect a bill." "So? Didn't know I owed you any money right now. How much is it?" Steelman, as the leader of his gang, was used to levies upon his purse when his followers had gone broke. He judged that he would have to let Doble have about twenty-five dollars now. "A thousand dollars." Brad shot a quick, sidelong look at
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