ses
waiting for them, and Mr. Spiker hit the back trail for Noches, with his
car, and slid into town while everybody was busy about the robbery."

"Sure. That would be the way of it," his friend nodded. "All we got to
do now is to get Spiker to squeal."

"If he happens to be a quitter."

"He will--under pressure. He's that kind."

A knock came on the door, and Tom Benwell, the store clerk, answered
her summons to come in.

"It's Budd, Miss Phyl. He came to see about getting-that stuff you was
going to order for a dress for his little girl," the storekeeper
explained.

Phyllis rose and followed the man back to the store. When she had gone,
Jim stepped to the door and shut it. Returning, he sat down beside the
bed.

"Larry, I didn't tell all I know. That hat in Spiker's room had the
initials P.S. written on the band. What's more, I knew the hat by a big
coffee stain splashed on the crown. It happens I made that stain myself
on the round-up onct when we were wrastling and I knocked the coffeepot
over."

Keller looked at his friend gravely. "It was Phil Sanderson's hat?"

Yeager nodded assent. "He must have loaned his old hat to Spiker for the
holdup."

"You didn't turn the hat over to the sheriff?"

"Not so as you could notice it. I shoved it in my jeans and burnt it
over my camp fire next day."

"This mixes things up a heap. If Phil is in this thing--and it sure
looks that way--it ties our hands. I'd like to have a talk with Spiker
before we do anything."

"What's the matter with having a talk with Phil? Why not shove this
thing right home to him?"

The nester shook his head. "Let's wait a while. We don't want to drive
Healy away yet. If the kid's in it he would go right to Healy with the
whole story."

Yeager swore softly. "It's all Brill's fault. He's been leading Phil
into devilment for two years now."

"Yes."

"And all the time been playing himself for the leader of us fellows that
are against the rustlers and that Bear Creek outfit," continued Jim
bitterly. "Why, we been talking of electing him sheriff. Durn his
forsaken hide, he's been riding round asking the boys to vote for him on
a promise to clean out the miscreants."

"You can oppose him, of course. But we have no absolute proof against
him yet. We must have proof that nobody can doubt."

"I reckon. And'll likely have to wait till we're gray."

"I don't think so. My guess is that he's right near the end of his rope.
We're going to m