"My gun. He giv' it back to me. A'm bor' heem dat gun li'l while ago."

The deputy sprang to his feet. "Quick, now, Bat!" he roared loudly.
"You slip these irons on him, an' I'll catch up the horses. Don't take
no chances!" He tossed the half-breed a pair of hand-cuffs, and
started after his own horse. "Kill him if he makes a crooked move.
Tell him you're actin' under my authority an' let him understand we're
hard men to tamper with--us sheriffs. We don't stand fer no foolin'."

In Curly Hardee's dance-hall Tex Benton leaned against the wall and
idly watched the couples weave in and out upon the floor to the whining
accompaniment of the fiddles and the clanging piano.

Apparently the cowboy's interest centred solely upon the dancers, but a
close observer would have noticed the keen glance with which he scanned
each new arrival--noticed too, that after a few short puffs on a
cigarette the man tossed it to the floor and immediately rolled
another, which is not in the manner of a man with a mind at ease.

The Texan saw Endicott enter the room, watched as the man's eyes swept
the faces of dancers and spectators, and smiled as he turned toward the
door.

"Three of us," mused the cowboy, with the peculiar smile still twisting
the corners of his lips, "Purdy, an' me, an' the pilgrim. Purdy's
work's so coarse he'll gum his own game, an' that's where I come in.
An' the pilgrim--I ain't quite figgered how he stacks up." The
cowpuncher glanced at his watch. "It's time they showed up long ago.
I wonder what's keepin' em." Suddenly he straightened himself with a
jerk: "Good Lord! I wonder if---- But no, not even Purdy would try
_that_. Still, if he knows I know he tried to dope me he'll be
figgerin' on pullin' his freight anyhow, an'--" The man's lips
tightened and, elbowing his way to the door he stepped onto the street
and hurried to the Headquarters saloon. Cinnabar Joe was behind the
bar, apparently none the worse for his dose of chloral, and in answer
to a swift signal, followed the Texan to the rear of the room.

"Does Purdy know I'm wise to his dope game?"

The bartender nodded: "Yes, I told him you must of switched the
glasses."

"I saw him leadin' your horse rigged up with your side-saddle acrost
the flats awhile back."

Again the bartender nodded: "He borrowed the outfit fer a gal of his'n
he said come in on the train. Wanted to take her fer a ride."

"Where'd they go?" The words whipped