ncountering. But Galloway was
not the man to ride anywhere that he was not ready for whatever man he
might meet; Norton's eyes, as the two drew nearer on the blistering
trail, marked the way Galloway's right hand rested loosely on the
cantle of his saddle and very near Galloway's right hip.

Norton, merely eying him sharply, was for passing on without a word or
a nod. The other, however, jerked in his horse, clearly of a mind for
parley.

"Well?" demanded Norton.

"I was just thinking," said Galloway dryly, "what an exceptionally
fitting spot we've picked! If I got you or you got me right now nobody
in the world need ever know who did the trick. We couldn't have found
a much likelier place if we'd sailed away to an island in the South
Seas."

"I was thinking something of the same kind," returned Norton coolly.
"Have you any curiosity in the matter? If you think you can get your
gun first . . . why, then, go to it!"

Galloway eased himself in the saddle.

"If I thought I could beat you to it," he answered tonelessly, "I'd do
it. As you know. If I even thought that I'd have an even break with
you," he added, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully as they took stock of
the sheriff's right hand swinging free at his side and never far from
the butt of the revolver fitting loosely in his holster, "I'd take the
chance. No, you're a shade too lively in the draw for me and I happen
to know it."

For a little they sat staring into each other's eyes, the distance of
ten steps between them, their right hands idle while their left hands
upon twitching reins curbed the impatience of two mettled horses. As
was usual their regard was one of equal malevolence, of brimming, cold
hatred. But slowly a new look came into Norton's eyes, a probing,
penetrating look of calculation. Galloway was again opening his lips
when the sheriff spoke, saying with contemptuous lightness:

"Jim Galloway, you and I have bucked each other for a long time. I
guess it's in the cards that one of us will get the other some day.
Why not right now and end the whole damned thing?--When I'm up against
a man as I am against you I like to make it my business to know just
how much sand has filtered into his make-up. You'd kill me if you had
the chance and weren't afraid to do it, wouldn't you?"

"If I had the chance," returned Galloway as coolly, though a spot of
color showed under the thick tan of his cheek. "And I'll get it some
day."

"If you've