trail
you're on the Three Bar range. I don't figure to get gunned up from
the brush more than once by the same man. Every Three Bar boy has
orders to shoot you down on sight any time you heave in view anywhere
within twenty miles of the Three Bar; so I wouldn't stray off the
main-traveled road any time you're going through."

Lanky Evans had detached himself from a group and Morrow looked up to
find the tall man standing at his shoulder.

"So you hunt in pairs," Morrow remarked.

"And later in packs," Lanky returned. "Why don't you ever come up and
visit us? Every time I'm riding north I keep looking back, expecting
to see you come cantering up from the south. Harris been commenting
about the little dead-line we've drawn on you?"

"What's the object of all this conversation?" Morrow flared. "If
you've got anything to say to me why get it over with."

"Nothing special," Evans said. "I just thought maybe I could goad you
into being imprudent enough to come up our way--which I'm sure hoping
to observe you north of the line and somewhere within a thousand yards."

Evans turned away and Morrow rejoined the two men he had left at the
bar. Deane looked about him. Apparently no one had noticed the little
by-play.

"Evans didn't exactly mean quite all of that," Harris explained. "Of
course if Morrow does come up our way Lanky would prefer to see him
first--but he would rather he'd keep away. He staged that little talk
as a safeguard for me. If Morrow acquires the idea that several folks
are anxious to see him up there, he's apt to be real cautious how he
prowls round the Three Bar neighborhood looking for me."

Deane looked again at Morrow and saw that Moore and Horne had drawn him
aside from the rest. The two Three Bar men were grinning and Morrow's
face was set and scowling.

"The boys must have framed it up among themselves," Harris said.
"That's the third pair I've seen conversing with him. It's doubtful
whether Morrow is deriving much pleasure out of the dance."

Deane crossed over to Billie. The music started but she shook her head
as he would have led her to the floor.

"Sit down. I want to talk with you. Long time no see 'um after
to-night," she said. "It'll be daylight soon and I've a long tale to
tell."

As the others danced she gave him a dozen messages to impart to various
friends.

"Tell Judge Colton that Three Bar stock is rising," she said. "And
that as soon as things are all s