ace that you turn the good trick and then
throw him hard."

"Either you're lyin', or Panhandle's crazy." Sneed turned and called to
his men, a few paces off. They rode up on tired horses. "What do you
say, boys? Panhandle is talkin', over there in Phoenix. Posmo, here,
says Panhandle is talkin' about us. Now nobody's got a thing on us. We
been south lookin' at some stock we're thinkin' of buyin'. Want to ride
over with me and have a little talk with Panhandle?"

"Ain't that kind of risky, Cap?"

"Every time! But it ain't necessary to ride right into the marshal's
office. We put our little deal through clean. The horses we're ridin'
belong to us. And who's goin' to stop us from ridin' in, or out, of
town? I aim to talk to Panhandle into ridin' north with us. It's safer
to have him along. If you all don't want to ride with me, I'll go in
alone."

"We're with you, Cap," said one of the men.

"Mebby it's safer to ride through the towns from now on than to keep
dodgin' 'em," suggested Lawson.

"Come on, then," and Sneed indicated Posmo.

"And don't make any mistakes," threatened Lawson, riding close to the
Mexican. "If you do--you won't last."

Posmo had not counted on this turn of affairs. He had supposed that his
news would send Sneed and his men in to have it out with Panhandle, or
that one of them would ride in and persuade Panhandle to join them. But
he now knew that he would have to ride with Sneed, or he would be
suspected of double-dealing.

At the fork of the road leading into Phoenix, Sneed reined in. "We're
ridin' tired horses, boys. And we ain't lookin' for trouble. All we want
is Panhandle. We'll get him."

Sitting his big horse like a statue, his club foot concealed by the long
_tapadero_, his physical being dominating his followers, Sneed headed
the group that rode slowly down the long open stretch bordering on the
east of the town. They entered town quietly and stopped a few doors
below the lighted front of the Hole-in-the-Wall.

"Just step in and tell Panhandle I want to see him," and Sneed indicated
one of his riders.

The man went in and came out again with the information that Panhandle
had left the saloon about an hour ago; that he had told the bartender he
was going out to get some money and come back and play the wheel.

"Get on your horse," said Sneed, who had been gazing up the street while
listening to the other. "Here comes Panhandle now. I'll do the talking."

CHAPTER X