Jim sat up. "Not with me," he declared, quietly,
"when we got acquainted. You ain't taking
him right, that's all."

Johnson eyed him surlily. "You're a wonderful
piece!" he snapped; and then, by glint of
eye and jerk of head snowed that he dismissed
the subject.

But Jim seemed to feel otherwise. "Maybe
I am," he retorted, turning absent eyes in the direction
of the horse. "But I ain't all. I happen
to know of another wonderful piece. I'm only a
one-territory piece."

Johnson grinned. "Go on," he urged, politely.

"There's no 'go on' to it," rejoined Jim, revealing
equal politeness. "I'm only thinking of a
piece I happen to know that runs about a man
that's wanted more or less in seven states and two
territories. Running double, he's hard to get."

Johnson reached over coolly and struck him
nastily across the mouth. Then as coolly he sat
back, while Jim slowly rose to his feet. His eyes
were blazing.

"Thanks," he said, tensely. "I've heard a lot
about your killings," he went on, breathless with
anger. "I guess maybe that's the way--"

"Hush!" broke in Glover, excitedly, his eyes
upon the ridge to the east.

The others turned. Moving slowly along the
crest, disappearing, reappearing, disappearing
again, was the figure of a man. They gazed a long
moment, when the figure dropped from view
again. They continued to gaze, silent, rigid,

[[197]]

p196 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p197w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p198

v?