banked on to a finish. Why, Dave Henderson
saved my life from a bunch of Apaches once when it was dollars to
doughnuts he would lose his own if he tried it. We were prospecting in
the Galiuros together, and one mo'ning when he went down to the creek
to water the hawsses he sighted three of the red devils edging up toward
the cabin. There might have been fifty of them there for all he knew,
and he had a clear run to the plains if he wanted to back one of the
ponies and take it. Most any man would have saved his own skin, but not
Dave. He hoofed it back to the cabin, under fire every foot of the
way, and together we made it so hot for them that they finally gave up
getting us. We were in the Texas Rangers together, and pulled each other
through a lot of close places. And then at the end--Why, it hurt me more
than it did losing my own little girl."

Bucky nodded. Since he was a man and not a father, he could understand
how the hurt would rankle year after year at the defalcation of his
comrade.

"That's another kink we have got to unravel in this tangle. First off,
there's your little girl, to find if she is still alive. Second, we must
locate Dave Henderson or his grave. Third, there's something due the
scoundrel who is responsible for this. Fourthly, brethren, there's that
map section to find. And lastly, we've got to find just how this story
you've told me got mixed with the story of the holdup of the Limited.
For it ce'tainly looks as if the two hang together. I take it that the
thing to do is to run down the gang that held up the Limited. Once we
do that, we ought to find the key to the mystery of your little girl's
disappearance. Or, at least, there is a chance we shall. And it's
chances we've got to gamble on in this thing."

"Good enough. I like the way you go at this. Already I feel a heap
better than I did."

"If the cards fall our way you're going to get this thing settled once
for all. I can't promise my news will be good news when I get it, but
anything will be better than the uncertainty you've been in, I take it,"
said Bucky, rising from his chair.

"You're right there. But, wait a moment. Let's drink to your success."

"I'm not much of a sport," Bucky smiled. "Fact is, I never drink, seh."

"Of course. I remember, now. You're the good bad man of the West,"
Mackenzie answered amiably. "Well, I drink to you. Here's good hunting,
lieutenant."

"Thank you."

"I suppose you'll get right at this thing?