en he sees me comin'."

"Well, he won't no more," answered the Texan dryly. "Purdy's dead."

"Dead!"

"Yes. He took a pilgrim's girl out on the bench an' the pilgrim got
wise to it an' dug out after 'em. Got there just in time an' took a
shot at Purdy an' got him."

"Land sakes! I'm glad he did! If they was a few more pilgrims like
him that would get about half the rest of you, maybe the others would
turn decent, or take to the brush."

The Texan laughed. "Anyway Purdy's dead, an' they've got the pilgrim
locked up, an' the girl's held fer a witness, an' I told Sam Moore I'd
take a shot at him if he locked her up wherever he's goin' to lock up
the pilgrim--in the wool-warehouse I reckon. Anyhow, he told her to go
to the hotel an' specified me fer a guard."

"Oh, he did, did he? Well jest you wait 'til I get my hat. I guess
maybe she'll be safer with _two_ guards." With a meaning look the girl
hurried away and a moment later returned and followed the Texan from
the room.

"Why was you so anxious she was to have Number 11, if what you've told
me is on the level?" she asked, as they approached the hotel.

"I don't know, yet, exactly. But I've got a hunch they'll be somethin'
doin' a little later."

"Uh-huh, an' I'll be right there when it's doin', too. An' you can bet
your last blue one on that!"

Alice Marcum swung unassisted to the ground as the two approached. And
as she glanced into the wide, friendly eyes of the girl she felt deeply
grateful to the Texan for bringing a woman. Then the woman was
speaking: "Come right along in the house. I'm Jennie Dodds, an' I'll
see't you get settled comfortable. Tex, he told me all about it. Land
sakes! I bet you feel proud! Who'd a thought any pilgrim could a got
Jack Purdy! Where's your grip?"

"Gosh! I plumb forgot!" exclaimed the cowboy, and started for his
horse. "I'll be back with yer war-bag in a minute." A few moments
later, he returned to the hotel carrying a leather bag.

"I'm goin' to kind of slip around among the boys a bit. I've be'n
doin' some thinkin' an maybe we can figger a way out. I don't quite
like the way things is shapin' up. I'll be wantin' most likely to see
you in a while----"

"We'll both be here," interrupted Jennie. "_Both_ of us. We'll be in
Number 11."

Outside the hotel the Texan paused to roll and light a cigarette, and
as he blew the smoke from his lungs, he smiled cynically.

"Purdy's work was so damn co