t information
obtainable, my friend. Likely to-day. Maybe not till to-morrow. The one
dead-sure point is that I'll make my getaway at the right time."

"There's one more dead-sure point--that I'm going to blow holes in you
at the right time," retorted the other.

"Like to bet on which of us is a true prophet?"

Brad relapsed into black, sulky silence.

The hours followed each other, and still nobody came to relieve the
guard. Keller could not understand the reason for this, any more than
he could fathom an adequate one for his abduction. There was of course
something behind it--something more potent than mere malice. If the
intention had been merely to kill him, the thing could have been done
without all this trouble. But though he searched his brain for an
explanation, he could not find one that satisfied.

The answer came to him later in the day. In the middle of the afternoon
a horse pounded up the draw to the cabin. Irwin went to the door, his
eye still on his prisoner, except for a swift glance at the newcomer.

"How's yore five-thousand-dollar beauty, Brad?" inquired a voice that
the nester recognized.

"Finer than silk, boss."

The rider swung from the saddle, trailed his rein, and came with
jingling spurs into the cabin.

"Good evening, Mr. Keller," he said with derisive respect.

The nester, lying sideways on the bed with his head on his hand, nodded
a greeting.

"I didn't know you and Mr. Irwin had doubled up and were bunkies,"
continued the jubilant voice. "When did you-all patch up the
partnership?"

"About eight o'clock last night, Mr. Healy," returned the prisoner,
eying him coolly. "And of course I knew it would be a surprise to you
when you learned it."

"Expecting to stay long with him?"

"He seems right hospitable, but I don't reckon I'll outstay my welcome."

Healy laughed, with mockery and not amusement. "Brad's such a pressing
host there's no telling when he'll let you go."

He was as malevolent as ever, but it was plain to be seen that he was
riding high on a wave of triumph. Affairs were plainly going to his
liking.

"The way I heard it you were expected down at the Frying Pan last night.
Changed yore mind about going, I reckon," he went on insolently.

"I reckon."

"Had business that detained you, maybe."

"You're a good guesser."

"Folks were right anxious down there, according to the say-so that
reached me."

Keller's cool eye measured him in silence, at which his