between him and the roadway.

"We want a few words with you, but didn't expect to find you here,"
abruptly remarked Shackleby. "Is there any place fit to sit in at the
saloon yonder?"

"I really don't know," Geoffrey replied. "Having no time to waste in
conversation, neither do I care. If you have anything to say to me you
can say it--very briefly--here."

Shackleby pinched the cigar he was smoking. Laying his hand on
Leslie's shoulder warningly, he whispered, "Keep still, you fool."

"I don't know that I can condense what I have to say," he answered
airily, addressing Thurston. "Fact is, in the first place, and before
Mr. Leslie asks a question, I want to know whether we--that is I--can
still come to terms with you. It's tolerably well-known that my
colleagues are, so to speak, men of straw, and individually I figure it
might be better for both of us if we patched up a compromise. I can't
sketch out the rest of my programme in the open air, but, as a general
idea, what do you think, Mr. Savine?"

"That your suggestion comes rather late in the day," was the answer.

Shackleby was silent for a moment, though, for it was quite dark now
that the train had gone. Savine could not be quite certain whether he
moved against Leslie by accident or deliberately hustled him a few
paces away. Geoffrey, however, felt certain that neither had seen
Millicent, nor, thanks to Savine, suspected that she was on board the
departing cars. Just then a deep-toned whistle vibrated across the
pines, somebody waved a lantern between the rails, and the panting of
the freight locomotive's pump became silent. The track led down grade
past the station towards the coast.

"Better late than never," said Shackleby. "My hand's a good one still.
I'm not sure I won't call you."

"To save time I'll show you mine a little sooner than I meant to do,
and you'll see the game's up," replied Geoffrey, grimly. "It may
prevent you from worrying me during the next week or two, and you can't
well profit by it. I've got Black, who is quite ready to go into court
at any time, where you can't get at him. I've got the nearest
magistrate's warrant executed on the person of your other rascal, and
Black will testify as to his record, which implies the throwing of a
sidelight upon your own. No doubt, to save himself, the other man will
turn against you. In addition, if it's necessary, which I hardly think
possible, I have even more damaging testimon