lige you, too, Jim. The First National at Noches was held up
yesterday, about half-past three or four, by some masked men. Slim and
Jim Budd were around and recognized that roan and its rider."

"You mean----"

"You've guessed it, Jim. I mean that your friend, the rustler, is a bank
robber, too."

"Yesterday, you say, at four o'clock?"

"About four, yes."

Yeager's face cleared. "Then that lets him out. I was with him yesterday
all day."

"Any one else with him?"

"No. We were alone."

"Where?"

"Out in the hills."

"Didn't happen to meet a soul all day maybe?"

"No; what of it?"

Healy barked out again his hard laugh of incredulity. "Go slow, Jim.
That ain't going to let him out. It's going to let you in."

Yeager took a step toward him, fists clenched, and eyes flashing. "I'll
not stand for that, Brill."

Healy waved him aside. "I've got no quarrel with you, Jim. I ain't
making any charges against you to-day. But when it comes to Mr. Keller,
that's different." His gaze shifted to the nester and carried with it
implacable hostility. "I back my play. He's not only a rustler, he's a
bank robber, too. What's more, he'll never leave here alive, except
with irons on his wrists!"

"Have you a warrant for my arrest, Mr. Healy?" inquired Keller evenly.

"Don't need one. Furthermore, I'd as lief take you in dead as alive. You
cayn't hide behind a girl's skirts this time," continued Healy. "You've
got to stand on your own legs and take what's coming. You're a bad
outfit. We know you for a rustler, and that's enough. But it ain't all.
Yesterday you gave us surplusage when you shot up three men in Noches.
Right now I serve notice that you've reached the limit."

"_You_ serve notice, do you?"

"You're right, I do."

"But not legal notice, Mr. Healy."

At sight of his enemy standing there so easy and undisturbed, facing
death so steadily and so alertly, Brill's passion seethed up and
overflowed. Fury filmed his eyes. He saw red. With a jerk, his revolver
was out and smoking. A stop watch could scarce have registered the time
before Keller's weapon was answering.

But that tenth part of a second made all the difference. For the first
heavy bullet from Healy's .44 had crashed into the shoulder of his foe.
The shock of it unsteadied the nester's aim. When the smoke cleared it
showed the Bear Creek man sinking to the ground, and the right arm of
the other hanging limply at his side.

At the first sound of