Several of the men grinned as the newcomers rode in and dismounted, and one or two spoke a short greeting to Haydon, calling him "Chief." Haydon did not linger to talk with the men, though; he dismounted and entered the cabin, where, an instant later, he was talking with Deveny. Haydon's eyes were still triumphant--glowing with a malignant satisfaction. "He's wise--and dead tickled to join," he told Deveny, referring to Harlan. "And I took him in on his own terms. We'll play him along, making him believe he's regular and right, until we get what we want. Then we'll down him!" * * * * * At about the time Haydon was talking with Deveny, Harlan was dismounting at the Rancho Seco corral. The T Down men were variously engaged--some of them in the corral; others in the stable, and still others in the blacksmith-shop--all attending to their new duties--and only Red Linton was at the corral gate to greet Harlan. Triumph was in Harlan's eyes as he grinned at Linton. "I'm a Simon-pure outlaw now, Red," he stated. "Haydon didn't hesitate none. He's a sneakin', schemin' devil, an' he hates me like poison. But he took me in, reckonin' to play me for a sucker. Looks like things might be interestin'." He grinned. "I'm yearnin' for grub, Red." Later, while Harlan was seated at a table in the cook shanty, he became aware of a shadow at the door; and he wheeled, to see Barbara Morgan looking in at him, her face flushed, a glow in her eyes that was entirely comprehensible to Harlan. She was glad he had returned--any man with half Harlan's wisdom could have told that! And color of a kind not caused by the wind and sun suffused Harlan's face. She had seen him from one of the kitchen windows, and curiosity--and an impatience that would not permit of delay--had brought her to search for him. "Why," she said, "I--I thought--didn't you say that you were going away?" "Didn't I go?" he grinned. "For a day," she taunted, her voice leaping. "A day," he said gravely; "why, it was longer than that, wasn't it? Seems that I ain't seen you for years an' years!" He got up, his hunger forgotten. But when he reached the door he saw her running toward the ranchhouse, not even looking back. He stood watching her until she opened a door and vanished. Then he grinned and returned to his neglected food, saying aloud, after the manner of men who spend much time in open places: "I'll sure take care of her, Morgan." CHAPTER XX LEFT-HANDED Harlan's statement to Haydon, to the effect that he had visited the camps of Kelso, Rance, Larkin, and other outlaws had been strictly accurate. At one time or another each of those outlaw leaders had sent for Harlan, to endeavor to prevail upon him to cast his lot with them--so common was the report that Harlan was of their type.