ng there as well as their
foreman knew it, but they were wise enough to go about it cautiously;
and the returns justified their caution, for they found the inhabitants
of Ford's Station unassailably loyal to the peace officer. To accuse
him, either directly or by suggestion, of double dealing would be to array
the two score inhabitants of the town on his side in hot and belligerent
partisanship, and this they wished to avoid by all means, for they had no
stomach for such a war as might easily follow. They then hit upon what
appeared to them to be an excellent plan, inasmuch as it was indirect and
would give the results desired; and the medium was to be the driver.

The talkative one had shown more than passing friendliness for The
Orphan, and they had his boasting words for it and he could not deny it,
for Bill was very proud of the part he had played on that memorable day,
and he took delight in recounting the conversation he had held with the
outfit at the coach--and he had a way of adding to the tartness of his
repartee in its repetition. Tex Williard reasoned from experience that it
would not appear at all strange and unusual for Bill to be called to
account for his friendliness and assistance to the outlaw and for his
contemptuous words concerning the cowboys if it was done by some member or
members of the ranch as a personal affair and without the appearance
of being sanctioned by the foreman. And through the driver he hoped to
strike at Shields, for the sheriff would not remain passive in such an
event; and once he was drawn into a brawl, hot tempers or accident
would be the plea if he should be killed. The apologies and remorse of
the sorrowful participants could be profound. And thus was cold-blooded
murder planned by the very men who reviled The Orphan because they claimed
he was a murderer, and who cried aloud for his death on that charge.

Tex was the ringleader and in his own way he was not without cunning,
and neither was he lacking in daring. He selected his assistants for the
game with cool, calculating judgment. The three he finally decided upon
were reckless and not lacking in intelligence and physical courage for
such work. After having made his selection he sounded them carefully
and finally made his plans known, going into minute rehearsal of every
phase and detail of the game with thoughtful care and studied sequence.
When he believed them to be well drilled he fixed upon the time and place
and cau