nd over the hogback, but he would not show by these precautions
any fear of the cutthroats with whom he had to deal. As was his
scrupulous custom, he shaved and took his morning bath before appearing
outdoors. In all Arizona no trimmer, more graceful figure of jaunty
recklessness could be seen than this one stepping lightly forth to knock
at the bunk-house door behind which he suspected were at least two men
determined on his death by treachery.

Neil came to the door in answer to his knock and within he could see the
villainous faces at bloodshot eyes of two of the others peering at him.

"Good mo'ning, Captain Neil. I'm on my way to keep that appointment I
mentioned last night I'd ce'tainly be glad to have you go along. Nothing
like being on the spot to prevent double-crossing."

"I'm with you in the fling of a cow's tail. Come on, boys."

"I think not. You and I will go alone."

"Just as you say. Reilly, I guess you better saddle Two-step and the
Lazy B roan."

"I ain't saddling ponies for Mr. Leroy," returned Reilly, with thick
defiance.

Neil was across the room in two strides. "When I tell you to do a thing,
jump! Get a move on and saddle those broncs."

"I don't know as--"

"Vamos!"

Reilly sullenly slouched out.

"I see you made them jump," commented the former captain audibly,
seating himself comfortably on a rock. "It's the only way you'll get
along with them. See that they come to time or pump lead into them.
You'll find there's no middle way."

Neil and Leroy had hardly passed beyond the rock-slide before the
others, suspicion awake in their sodden brains, dodged after them on
foot. For three miles they followed the broncos as the latter picked
their way up the steep trail that led to the Dalriada Mine.

"If Mr. Collins is here, he's lying almighty low," exclaimed Neil, as he
swung from his pony at the foot of the bluff from the brow of which the
gray dump of the mine straggled down like a Titan's beard.

"Right you are, Mr. Neil."

York whirled, revolver in hand, but the man who had risen from behind
the big boulder beside the trail was resting both hands on the rock
before him.

"You're alone, are you?" demanded York.

"I am."

Neil's revolver slid back into its holster. "Mornin', Val. What's new
down at Tucson?" he said amiably.

"I understood I was to meet you alone, Mr. Leroy," said the sheriff
quickly, his blue-gray eyes on the former chief.

"That was the agreement, Mr. Coll