exploding revolvers, Phyllis had grown rigid, but
the fusillade had not died away before she was flying along the hall to
the porch.

Brill Healy's voice, cold and cruel, came to her in even tones:

"I reckon I've done this job right, boys. If he hadn't winged me, and if
Jim hadn't butted in, I'd a-done it more thorough, though."

Yeager was bending over the man lying on the ground. He looked up now
and spoke bitterly: "You've murdered an innocent man. Ain't that
thorough enough for you?"

Then, catching sight of Cuffs on the porch of the house, Yeager issued
orders sharply: "Get on my horse and ride like hell for Doc Brown! Bob,
you and Luke help me carry him into the house. What room, Phyl?"

"My room, Jim. Oh, Cuffs, hurry, please!" With that she was gone into
the house to make ready the bed for the wounded man.

Healy picked up the revolver that had fallen from his hand, and slid it
back into the holster.

"That's right, boys. Take him in and let Phyl patch up the coyote if she
can. I reckon this time, she'll have her hands plumb full. Beats all how
a decent girl can take up with a ruffian and a scoundrel."

"That will be enough from you, seh," Yeager told him sharply.

Purdy nodded. "Jim's right, Brill. This man has got what was coming to
him. It ain't proper to jump him right now, when he's down and out."

"Awful tender-hearted you boys are. Come to that, I've got a pill in me,
too, but of course that don't matter," Healy retorted.

"If he dies you'll have another in you, seh," Yeager told him quietly,
meeting his eyes steadily for an instant. "Steady, Bob. You take his
feet. That's right."

They carried the nester to the bedroom of Phyllis and laid him down
gently on the bed. His eyes opened and he looked about him as if to ask
where he was. He seemed to understand what had happened, for presently
he smiled faintly at his friend and said:

"Beat me to it, Jim. I'm bust up proper this time."

"He shot without giving warning."

Keller moved his head weakly in dissent. "No, I knew just when he was
going to draw, but I had to wait for him."

The big, husky plainsmen undressed him with the tenderness of women, and
did their best with the help of Aunt Becky, to take care of his wounds
temporarily. After these had been dressed Phyllis and the old colored
woman took charge of the nursing and dismissed all the men but Yeager.

It would be many hours before Doctor Brown arrived, and it took no
critical