yself for it before twenty-four
hours had passed. He must have Larry in his power, Jim."

"Looks like," he nodded, and added grimly: "If you do any regretting
there will be others that will, too."

She caught the lapels of his coat and looked into his face with
extraordinary intensity. "I'm going back with you, Jim. You'll let me,
won't you? I've waited--and waited. You can't think what an awful night
it has been. I can't stand it any longer! I'll go mad! Oh, Jim, you'll
take me, I know!" Her hands slipped down to his and clung to them with
passionate entreaty.

"Why, honey, I cayn't. This is likely to be war before we finish. It
ain't any place for girls."

"I'll stay back, Jim. I'll do whatever you say, if you'll only let me
go."

He shook his head resolutely. "Cayn't be done, girl. I'm sorry, but you
see yourself it won't do."

Nor could all her beseechings move him. Though his heart was very tender
toward her he was granite to her pleadings. At last he put her aside
gently and stepped into the house.

Going at once to the fiddlers, he stopped the music and stood on the
little rostrum where they were seated. Surprised faces turned toward
him.

"What's up, Jim?" demanded Slim, his arm still about the waist of Bess
Purdy.

"A man was waylaid while coming to this dance and taken prisoner by his
enemies. They mean to do him a mischief. I want volunteers to rescue
him."

"Who is it?" several voices cried at once.

"The man I mean is Larrabie Keller."

A pronounced silence followed before Slim drawled an answer:

"Cayn't speak for the other boys, but I reckon I haven't lost any
Kellers, Jim."

"Why not? What have you got against him?"

"You know well enough. He's under a cloud. We don't say he's a rustler
and a bank robber, but then we don't say he ain't."

"I say he isn't! Boys, it has come to a show-down. Keller is a member of
the Rangers, sent here by Bucky O'Connor to run down the rustlers."

Questions poured upon him.

"How do you know?"

"How long have you known?"

"Who told you?"

"Why didn't he tell us so himself, then?"

Jim waited till they were quiet. "I've seen letters from the governor to
him. He didn't come here declaring his intentions because he knew there
would be nothing doing if the rustlers knew he was in the neighborhood.
He has about done his work now, and it's up to us to save him before
they bump him off. Who will ride with me to rescue him?"

There was no hesitation