for evidence to send us to the pen.
Think he'd be a good risk for an insurance company?"

Dave thought fast. "I don't reckon you're right. I put the kid
through law school. My friends have likely sent him up here to look
for me."

Rutherford scoffed. "Nothing to that. How could they know you are
here? We didn't advertise it."

"No-o, but--" Dingwell surrendered the point reluctantly. He flashed
a question at Rutherford. "Tighe will murder him. That's sure. You
going to let him?"

"Not if I can help it. I'm going to send young Beaudry out of the
park."

"Fine. Don't lose any time about it, Hal."

The Huerfano Park rancher made one more attempt to shake his prisoner.
His dark eyes looked straight into those of Dingwell.

"Old-timer, what about you? I ain't enjoying this any more than you
are. But it's clear out of my hands."

"Then why worry?" asked Dingwell, a little grin on his drawn face.

"Hell! What's the use of asking that? I'm no Injun devil," barked
Rutherford irritably.

"Turn me loose and I'll forget all I've seen. I won't give you the
loot, but I'll not be a witness against you."

The Huerfano Park ranchman shook his head. "No, we want that gold,
Dave. You butted into our game and we won't stand for that."

"I reckon we can't make a deal, Hal."

The haggard eyes of the starving man were hard as tungsten-washed
steel. They did not yield a jot.

A troubled frown dragged together the shaggy eyebrows of Rutherford as
he snapped out his ultimatum.

"I like you, Dave. Always have. But you're in one hell of a hole.
Don't feed yourself any fairy tales. Your number is chalked up, my
friend. Unless you come through with what we want, you'll never leave
here alive. I can't save you. There's only one man can--and that is
your friend David Dingwell."

The other man did not bat an eyelid. "Trying to pass the buck, Hal?
You can't get away with it--not for a minute." A gay little smile of
derision touched his face. "I'm in your hands completely. I'll not
tell you a damn thing. What are you going to do about it? No, don't
tell me that Meldrum and Tighe will do what has to be done. You're the
high mogul here. If they kill me, Hal Rutherford will be my murderer.
Don't forget that for a second."

Rutherford carried home with him a heavy heart. He could see no way
out of the difficulty. He knew that neither Meldrum nor Tighe would
consent to let Dingwell go unless an agre