“Hit the bunk house,” said Lige; “no range work for you, Hamp, till to-morrow. Keep mum about what you’ve done, too. There’s twenty pesos in gold for you, if I learn you haven’t said a word about the work you’ve done.” Hamp mumbled something under his breath, turned and shuffled out. “We’re getting along in fine shape, Lige,” crowed the hunchback. “It won’t be long till you get part of your revenge now. We’ll take care of Dunbar first.” “I want to get Perry, too,” snapped Lige; “don’t forget that while your brain’s at work.” “It’ll be easy to get Perry--but Dunbar first, Dunbar first.” “And what about Buffalo Bill?” “He’ll come harder, and it’ll take more scheming, Lige. We’ll save Buffalo Bill for the last. Oh, this is fine--finer than I expected. So Dunbar has gone to Hackamore to buy a diamond ring for Mrs. Dunbar, hey?” Jerry went off into one of his mirthless cackles again. “It couldn’t have happened better, Lige,” he declared, “honest it couldn’t.” “Stop your confounded sputtering and tell me what you’re going to make happen? What are you keeping me in the dark for?” “I’m keeping you in the dark, Lige, until I can make sure of Isaacs.” “Isaacs is going to help?” “Yes, Lige, if I can get him to. Have you got any influence with Abraham Isaacs?” “I’ve bought stuff from him.” “Then buy some more stuff from him, Lige! Buy as much as you can, but don’t take the stuff or pay him the money until he’ll promise to help us.” “Ole Abe Isaacs would sell his soul if he saw a chance for profit. I can make a deal with him, but what in blazes can that old Jew do for us?” “I’ll tell you later, Lige, when----” “Oh, be hanged to you.” Lige Benner whirled away and stepped into the open door. As he did so, a cowboy hurried up from the foot of the hill. “Feller down there wants a job, Benner,” grinned the cowboy. “I’ve got all the men I want.” “He’s a hoss thief, I reckon,” went on the cowboy, “an’----” “If you’re sure of that,” cut in Benner sharply, “send the fellow to Hackamore with a couple of the men.” “But if he is a hoss thief, then he’s been liftin’ some o’ the cattle belongin’ ter Buffler Bill’s pards an’----” “Been stealing horses belonging to Buffalo Bill’s pards?” demanded Benner. “Send the man up here and tell him to bring the horse.” “That’s right, Lige,” said Jerry. “It’ll pay to look into this.” Lige and Jerry Benner stood in the door of the adobe house as the stranger came up the hill. “He looks like a bad egg,” muttered Lige. “That’s right, Lige,” said Jerry, “he does. I reckon either of us is competent to tell a bad egg from a good one.” Lige didn’t like the tone of his brother’s voice, and turned on him sharply. Jerry didn’t take his eyes from the figure advancing up the slope, but the weird laugh came through his motionless lips.