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country now until we have broken up the gang of desperadoes that is
terrorizing this country。 If we don't get them they will get us。 There isn't
any doubt about that。 I'm not willing to lie down before these miscreants。
What do y'u say？〃
〃I'm with y'u； old man。 But put a name to it。 What are y'u proposing？〃
〃I'm proposing that y'u and I make it our business not to have any
other business until we clean out this nest of wolves。 Let's go right after
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them； and see if we can't wipe out the Shoshone…Teton outfit。〃
〃How？ They own the law； don't they？〃
〃They don't own the United States Government。 When they held up a
mail…train they did a fool thing； for they bucked up against Uncle Sam。
What I propose is that we get hold of one of the gang and make him
weaken。 Then； after we have got hold of some evidence that will convict；
we'll go out and run down my namesake Ned Bannister。 If people once get
the idea that his hold isn't so strong there's a hundred people that will
testify against him。 We'll have him in a Government prison inside of six
months。〃
〃Or else he'll have us in a hole in the ground；〃 added the foreman；
dryly。
〃One or the other；〃 admitted Bannister。 〃Are y'u in on this thing？〃
〃I surely am。 Y'u're the best man I've met up with in a month of
Sundays； seh。 Y'u ain't got but one fault； and that is y'u don't smoke
cigareets。 Feed yourself about a dozen a day and y'u won't have a blamed
trouble left。 Match； seh？〃 The foreman of the Lazy D； already following
his own advice； rolled deftly his smoke； moistened it and proceeded to
blow away his troubles。
Bannister looked at his debonair insouciance and laughed。 〃Water off a
duck's back；〃 he quoted。 〃I know some folks that would be sweating fear
right now。 It's ce'tainly an aggravating situation； that of being an honest
man hunted as a villain by a villain。 But I expaict my cousin's enjoying it。〃
〃He ain't enjoying it so much as he would if his plans had worked out
a little smoother。 He's holding the sack right now and cussing right smaht
over it being empty； I reckon。〃
〃He did lock the stable door a little too late；〃 chuckled the sheepman。
But even as he spoke a shadow fell over his face。 〃My God！ I had
forgotten。 Y'u don't suppose he would take it out of Miss Messiter。〃
〃Not unless he's tired of living；〃 returned her foreman； darkly。 〃One
thing； this country won't stand for is that。 He's got to keep his hands off
women or he loses out。 He dassent lay a hand on them if they don't want
him to。 That's the law of the plains； isn't it？〃
〃That's the unwritten law for the bad man； but I notice it doesn't seem
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to satisfy y'u； my friend。 Y'u and I know that my cousin； Ned Bannister；
doesn't acknowledge any law； written or unwritten。 He's a devil and he has
no fear。 Didn't he kidnap her before？〃
〃He surely would never dare touch those young ladies。 ButI don't
know。 Bann； I guess we better roll along toward the Lazy D country； after
all。〃
〃I think so。〃 Ned looked at his friend with smiling drollery。 〃I thought
y'u smoked your troubles away； Jim。 This one seems to worry y'u。〃
McWilliams grinned sheepishly。 〃There's one trouble won't be smoked
away。 It kinder dwells。 〃Then； apparently apropos of nothing； he added；
irrelevantly： 〃Wonder what Denver's doing right now？〃
〃Probably keeping that appointment y'u ran away from；〃 bantered his
friend。
〃I'll bet he is。 Funny how some men have all the luck；〃 murmured the
despondent foreman。
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CHAPTER 16。 HUNTING BIG
GAME
In point of fact； Denver's occupation at that moment was precisely
what they had guessed it to be。 He was sitting beside Nora Darling in the
grand stand； explaining to her the fine points of 〃roping。〃 Mr。 Bob Austin；
commonly known as 〃Texas；〃 was meanwhile trying to make himself
agreeable to Helen Messiter。 Truth to tell； both young women listened with
divided interest to their admirers。 Both of them had heard the story of the
night； and each of them had tucked away in her corsage a scribbled note
she wanted to get back to her room and read again。 That the pursuit was
still on everybody knew； and those on the inside were aware that the
〃King；〃 masquerading under the name of Jack Holloway； was the active
power behind the sheriff stimulating the chase。
It was after the roping had begun； and Austin had been called away to
take his turn； that the outlaw chief sauntered along the aisle of the grand
stand to the box in which was seated the mistress of the Lazy D。
〃Beautiful mo'ning； isn't it？ Delightfully crisp and clear；〃 he said by
way of introduction； stopping at her box。
She understood the subtle jeer in his manner； and her fine courage rose
to meet it。 There was a daring light in her eye； a buoyant challenge in her
voice as she answered：
〃It is a splendid morning。 I'm not surprised you are enjoying it。〃
〃Did I say I was enjoying it？〃 He laughed as he lifted the bar； came
into her box and took a seat。
〃Of course not。 How careless of me！ I had forgotten you were in
mourning for a deceased friend。〃
His dark eyes flashed。 〃I'll not mourn for him long。 He was a mighty
trifling fellow； anyhow。 Soon as I catch and hang his murderers I'll quit
wearing black。〃
〃You may wear out several suits before then；〃 she hit back。
〃Don't y'u believe it； when I want a thing I don't quit till it's done。〃
She met his gaze； and the impact of eyes seemed to shock her
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physically。 The wickedness in him threatened； gloated； dominated。 She
shivered in the warm sunlight； and would not have had him know it for
worlds。
〃Dear me！ How confident you talk。 Aren't you sometimes
disappointed？〃
〃Temporarily。 But when I want a thing I take it in the end。〃