a goin' ter shoot me in ther back, air ye?" asked
Thompson, turning to fulfill the command.

"Wouldn't you shoot me in the back, or any other part of the body, had
you the opportunity?"

"I didn't."

"You haven't had the opportunity."

"Yes, I have."

"When?"

"Ther night I borried yer hoss. Ye didn't know me then, Wade, but hit
was me, shore. I lost my hoss an' just had ter have 'nuther--had so much
ter do afore morning', an' I took yours for only a little while, 'cause
I knowed you wouldn't have as much ter do as me."

"Why did you not kill me, Thompson, while you had the chance?"

"Because ye didn't kill me when ye had the chance, that's why."

Wade crossed the stream, going directly through the water, took Al's
pistols from his pockets and laid them on the ground a safe distance
away. Stepping back a pace, he commanded Thompson to turn and face him.

"So you did not kill me that night because I had not killed you at a
time when I had an advantage?"

"Exactly. Do ye think one of us fellers could be unfair? Not so; we
treat everybody square. That time made us even, but I said I'd kill ye
ef ye was caught that away again."

"In that case, Thompson, I have a perfect right to let you have a load,"
said Wade, drawing a bead on the latter's head. "First, however, I want
to know why you hate me so, why do you wish to kill me at all?"

"That ought'n ter make any difference ter you."

"It does, and your life just now depends upon your answer to the
question. I've got you dead to rights, and you may as well know that I
do not intend you shall live another moment if your motives against me
are not true. Now answer how you will."

"In ther first place," said Thompson coolly, "ye air playin' false with
ther gal I love. Ye don't intend ter marry her. Ye've already said in
yer own mind that she's not good enough fer you, an' ye air foolin' with
her heart an' a-killin' her, an' she's weaned away from me, so it's made
me sick, an' I said I'd kill ye fer it. Then ye got ther best of me, an'
didn't, an' I got ther best of you, an' I didn't. Now, ye have me, an' I
reckon ye oughter do it, though, I----"

"You are lying," interrupted Wade. "You are lying through and through,
and you know it. You are a coward, Thompson, through and through, and
you feel it, so I'm going to shoot you through the top of your head
right now to end your earthly fears and settle the matter once and
forever."

There was a terrible gleam in