how?"

"That's what."

"But it's crooked money, Pete. And it ain't lucky. Supposin' we get
caught? Who gits the money? The Spider, or Arguilla's bunch, or you
or me? Not on your life! The cops get it--and keep it."

"That's all right. But if I git through, these here pesos goes to that
bank. Anyhow, you said it ain't lucky money. So I aim to git away
from it pronto. Then I'm square with The Spider--and I quit."

"You can't shake the game that easy, Pete. I quit when we started for
Sanborn--and what did we run into? And you bein' with me gits you in
bad, likewise."

"If that's what's botherin' you, why, I'll take the chanct, and stick,"
said Pete.

"Nope. Right now I'm lookin' out for myself, and nobody else. If they
kin hang that last deal onto me--and you know what I mean--why, your
Uncle Ed'll sure have to take the long trail. And I aim to keep
a-ridin' in the sun for a spell yet. We're gittin' clost to town.
Mebby we can drop off easy and sift out of sight without any fuss.
Then we got a chanct to change our clothes and git rid of that dough.
They'll be lightin' the lamps right soon. Them saddle-bags buckled?"

"They sure are."

"All right. When you hear 'em whistle for the crossin' jest stand up
and drop 'em out of the window. Nobody kin see you from behind. Then
we mosey into the baggage-car and tell the agent in there we're lookin'
for our war-bag. Bein' express messenger, he packs a gun. You want to
step lively for that side door."

"I git you, Ed. What's all them lights out there?"

"That's the town. She's jest whistlin' for the crossin'. Dump your
freight--easy, like you was lookin' out at the scenery. That's her.
Now, stretch your arms and kind of look round. The conductor is out on
the back platform. Come on!"

The express messenger was leaning from the side door in the act of
swinging a parcel to the local agent at the Grossing, when Brevoort and
Pete entered. With his back toward them and absorbed in launching the
package he did not see them as they angled quickly to the other door
and dropped off into the night. The train slowed almost to a stop, the
grinding brakes eased, and it drew away, leaving Pete and Brevoort
squatting behind a row of empty oil barrels along the track.

CHAPTER XXXII

EL PASO

As the tail-lights of the train disappeared, Pete and Brevoort rose and
walked down the track several hundred yards. Pete was certain that
they had retra