n that came
here first because they wanted to hide out. They've slipped into darn
crooked ways, and the rest has either followed suit or quit. All through
this rough country. It's the same-over in the Black Rim, across Thunder
Mountains, and beyond that to the Sawtooth, a man that's honest is a
man that's off his range. I'd like to see you pull out--before you're
planted."

Bud looked at Jerry, studied him, feature by feature. "Then what are you
doing here?" he demanded bluntly. "Why haven't you pulled out?"

"Me?" Jerry bit his lip. "Bud, I'm going to take a chance and tell you
the God's-truth. I dassent. I'm protected here because I keep my mouth
shut, and because they know I've got to or they can hand me over. I had
some trouble. I'm on the dodge, and Little Lost is right handy to the
Sinks and--Catrock Canyon. There ain't a sheriff in Idaho that would
have one chance in a thousand of getting me here. But you--say!" He
faced Bud. "You ain't on the dodge, too, are yuh?"

"Nope," Bud grinned. "Over at the Muleshoe they seemed to think I was. I
just struck out for myself, and I want to show up at home some day with
a stake I made myself. It's just a little argument with my dad that I
want to settle. And," he added frankly, "I seem to have struck the
right place to make money quickly. The very fact that they're a bunch of
crooks makes my conscience clear on the point of running my horse. I'm
not cheating them out of a cent. If Jeff's horse is faster than Smoky,
Jeff is privileged to let him out and win if he can. It isn't my fault
if he 's playing to let me win from the whole bunch in the hope that
he can hold me up afterwards and get the roll. It's straight 'give and
take'--and so far I've been taking."

Jerry worked for a while, moodily silent. "What I'd like is to see you
take the trail; while the takin's good," he said later. "I've got to
keep my mouth shut. But I like yuh, Bud. I hate like hell to see you
walking straight into a trap."

"Say, I'm as easily trapped as a mountain lion," Bud told him
confidently.

Whereat Jerry looked at him pityingly. "You going to that dance up at
Morgan's?"

"Sure! I'm going to take Honey and--I think Mrs. Morris if she decides
to go. Honey mentioned it last night. Why?"

"Oh, nothing." Jerry shouldered his fork and went off to where a jug of
water was buried in the hay beside a certain boulder which marked
the spot. He drank long, stopped for a short gossip with Charley,