"That's straight talk," said Harlan. "I'm givin' you a straight answer. If I join your bunch I join on the same footing with you an' Deveny--nothin' less. We split everything three ways--the other boys takin' their regular share after we take ours. I bring my boys in under the rules you've got that govern the others. I run the Rancho Seco--no one interferin'. When I rustle up that gold old Morgan hid, we split it three ways. Barbara Morgan goes with the ranch--no one interferin'." Color surged into Haydon's face. "You don't want much, do you?" he sneered. "I want what's comin' to me--what I'm goin' to take, if I come in. That's my proposition. You can take it or leave it." Haydon was silent for an instant, studying Harlan's face. What he saw there brought a frown to his own. "Harlan," he said softly, "some of the boys feel a little resentful over the way you sent Dolver and Laskar out. There are several friends of those two men outside now. Suppose I should call them in and tell them that the bars are down on you--eh?" If Haydon expected his threat to intimidate Harlan, he was mistaken. Harlan sat, motionless, watching the outlaw chief steadily. And into his eyes came a glitter of that cold contempt which Haydon had seen in them on the day he had faced Harlan near the bunkhouse at the Rancho Seco. "You're doin' the honors, Haydon," he said. "If you're that kind of a coyote I don't want to deal with you. If you think you want to pass up a share of that hundred thousand, start yappin' to them boys. It's likely there's some of them hangin' around, close. Mebbe you've got some of them peekin' around corners at me now. I ain't runnin' from no trouble that comes my way. Get goin' if you're yearnin' to requisition the mourners." Rage over the threat was now plain in his eyes, for they were aflame with a cold fire as he got up from his chair and stood, crouching a little, his hands lingering near the butts of his guns. Haydon did not move, but his face grew pallid and he smiled nervously, with shallow mirth. "You are not in a joking mood today, Harlan?" he said. "There's jokes, _an'_ jokes, Haydon. I've come here in good faith. I've been in camps like this before--in Kelso's, Dave Rance's, Blondy Larkin's, an' some others. Them men are outlaws--like you an' me; an' they've done things that make them greater than you an' me--in our line. But I've visited them, free an' easy--goin' an' comin' whenever I pleased. An' no man threatenin' me. "Your manners is irritatin' to me--I'm tellin' you so. I'm through! You're takin' me out, now--back to the Rancho Seco. You're ridin' behind me--minus your guns, your mouth shut tighter than you ever shut it before. An' if there's any shootin' you'll know it--plenty!"