get him in
no time."

"Think he set her on fire?"

"Maybe he dropped a cigarette. I don't think he'd risk it, on purpose."

Shoop glanced at his watch, tilting it toward the light of the flames.
"It's just one. Hello! There comes the agent. Reckon he thought the
station was afire."

"Guess not. He's lighting up. Must be a special going to stop."

"He's sure set the red. Say, I'm goin' over to see. Wait a minute."

Shoop followed the agent into the station. Presently the foreman
reappeared and beckoned to Corliss. "Listen, Jack! Reddy says he's
got some runnin' orders for the Flyer and she's got to stop to get 'em.
That means we can eat breakfast in Usher, 'stead of here. No tellin'
who'll be on the six-forty headed for the same place, tomorrow mornin'."

Corliss pondered. His plan of homesteading the water-hole ranch had
been upset by the arrest of Sundown. Still, that was no reason for
giving up the plan. From Shoop's talk with Kennedy, the lawyer, it was
evident that Loring had his eye on the deserted ranch.

Far down the track he saw a glimmering dot of fire and heard the faint
muffled whistle of the Flyer. "All right, Bud. I'll get the tickets.
Get our coats. We can just make it."

When they stepped from the Flyer at Usher, the faint light of dawn was
edging the eastern hills. A baggage-truck rumbled past and they heard
some one shout, "Get out o' that!" In the dim light they saw a figure
crawl from beneath the baggage-car and dash across the station platform
to be swallowed up in the shadowy gloom of a side street.

"I only had seven drinks," said Shoop, gazing after the disappearing
figure. "But if Sundown ain't a pair of twins, that was him."

"Hold on, Bud!" And Corliss laid his hand on Shoop's arm. "Don't take
after him. That's the way to stampede him. We go easy till it's
light. He'll see us."

They sauntered up the street and stopped opposite an "all-night"
eating-house.

"We won't advertise the Concho, this trip," said Corliss, as they
entered.

Shoop, with his legs curled around the counter stool, sipped his coffee
and soliloquized. "Wise old head! Never was a hotel built that was
too good for Jack when he's travelin'. And he don't do his thinkin'
with his feet, either."

The waiter, who had retired to the semi-seclusion of the kitchen, dozed
in a chair tilted back against the wall. He was awakened by a voice at
the rear door. Shoop straightened up and grinn