rigues--insults--robberies that ever were hatched---- By God, sir,
if you offered me a million of money you shouldn't alter that
Government line by a hair! If you speak to me again--I'll knock you
down!"

He flung the door wide open, went out like a rocket, and bowled a man
half over in his blind haste to be quit the place.

McCoppet was left there staring where he had gone--staring and afraid
of what the results would probably be to all the game. He had no eyes
to behold a man who had suddenly discerned him from the crowds. A
moment later he started violently as a huge form stood in the door.

"Trimmer!" he said, "I'm busy!"

"You're goin' to be busier in about a minute, if I don't see you right
now," said the man addressed as Trimmer, a raw, bull-like lumberman
from the mountains. "Been waitin' to see you some time."

"Come in," said the gambler instantly regaining his composure. "Come
in and shut the door. How are you, anyway?" He held out his hand to
shake.

Trimmer closed the door. "Ain't ready to shake, jest yet," he said.
"I come here to see you on business."

"That's all right, Larry," answered McCoppet. "That's all right. Sit
down."

"I'm goin' to," announced his visitor. He took a chair, pulled out a
giant cigar, and lighting it up smoked like a pile of burning leaves.
"You seem to be pretty well fixed," he added, taking a huge black
pistol from his pocket and laying it before him on the table. "Looks
like money was easy."

"I ain't busted," admitted the gambler. "Have a drink?"

"Not till we finish." The lumberman settled in his chair. "That was
the way you got me before--and you ain't goin' to come it again."

McCoppet waited for his visitor to open. Trimmer was not in a hurry.
He eyed the man across the table calmly, his small, shifting optics
dully gleaming.

Presently he said; "Cayuse is here in camp."

Cayuse was the half-breed Piute Indian whose company McCoppet had
avoided. Partially educated, wholly reverted to his Indian ways and
tribal brethren, Cayuse was a singular mixture of the savage, plus
civilized outlooks and ethical standards that made him a dangerous
man--not only a law unto himself, as many Indians are, but also a
strange interpreter of the law, both civilized and aboriginal.

McCoppet had surmised what was coming.

"Yes--I noticed he was here."

"Know what he come fer?" asked the lumberman. "Onto his game?"

"You came here to tell me. Deal the ca