ll mussed up inside. You'll certainly be
doing something if you try it."

"Well, then," compromised Tex, "answer my question!"

"And no man gets an answer to a question like that in words," the sheriff
continued, as if there had been no interruption. "But I'll give you and
your white-faced bums a chance for your lives--and I don't wonder The
Orphan shot up Jimmy, neither. Put up your wobbling guns and get out of
this country as fast as God will let you! If you ever come back I'll fill
you plumb full of lead! It's your move, Lovely Face, and the quicker you
do it the better it'll be for your health."

[Illustration: "'The less you count the longer you'll live!' said Shields"
(See page 192.)]

"Oh, I don't know about that," replied Tex with a leer and swagger. "To a
man up a tree it looks like yu are up agin a buzz saw this time."

"To a man on the ground it looks like your tin buzz saw has hit the
hardest knot it ever struck, and you'll feel the jar purty soon, too,"
Shields countered, his hazel eyes beginning to grow red. "You put up that
gun and scoot before I blow your d----d head off!"

"I'll give yu 'til I counts three to answer my question," Tex said,
ignoring the advice. "One!"

"The less you count the longer you'll live," said Shields, gripping his
horse with his knees in readiness to jump it sideways.

"Two!"

"Afternoon, gents," said a pleasant voice up above them, and all jumped
and looked up. As they did so Shields jerked his guns loose and laughed
softly: "That itch has plumb gone away," he said. "It's a new deal," he
exulted, his face wreathed in grins.

CHAPTER XII

A NEW DEAL ALL AROUND

On the edge of the bank, thirty feet above them, a man squatted on his
heels, his forearms resting easily on his knees. In each hand was a
long-barreled Colt, held in a manner oppressively businesslike. One of
the guns was leveled at the stomach of the man who guarded Bill, and
who still held the rope; the other covered the man who had baited the
sheriff. Shields took care of the remaining two. One of the newcomer's
eyes was half closed, squinting to keep out the smoke which curled up
from the cigarette which protruded jauntily from a corner of his mouth.
If anything was needed to strengthen the air of pertness of the man
above it was supplied by his sombrero, which sat rakishly over one
ear. A quizzical grin flickered across his face and the cigarette bobbed
recklessly when he laughed.

"Was you