Bill was standing back to the bar in the Golden Arrow saloon one evening two days after Jesse and his companions had departed from the cabin of the rancher, headed for Silver City. The green baize door that was the pride of the Golden Arrow, swung in and two strangers entered, who attracted Ben's attention instantly. They were well set up, sharp-featured and clear-eyed fellows, and though there was nothing about their dress to distinguish them from the other habitues of the place, Ben mentally put them down as secret service men; but what mission they could possibly be bent on there, he could not understand. The two sat down at a table and ordered whiskey with "rain water" on the side, and the keen-eyed sheriff noted that while they only took one sip of the fire-water, they took down the "rain water" with evident satisfaction. The rest of the whisky was dumped onto the floor. All this he noted under half-closed eyelids. "If they ain't service men, they'll bear watching," was his comment. After a little the newcomers and the sheriff's eyes met, and each saw in the other something of interest. "That's the sheriff over there sizing us up, or I'm a goat," mumbled Jesse to his companion, who was none other than his elder brother. "Is he next, do you think?" asked Frank. "No, he don't know us. He's looking for somebody and he ain't sure whether we are the ones or not." "Hadn't we better make believe we have finished and walk out? I don't like the idea of hanging around and letting the whole town spot us, anyway," growled Frank. "You can go. You ain't tied," sneered Jesse. "But come on, let's be good-natured. There ain't no call for you and I being sore on each other." "No, that's so," agreed Frank swallowing his resentment toward his brother for the time being. But try as he honestly did, not to hate his brother, at times the old feeling would come out. Yet on the other hand, between the two was a strong bond, perhaps due more to the strenuous scenes through which they had passed together, than to any tie of brotherly love. "That man and I are going to mix it up some day," mused the sheriff. "Say," said Jesse to his companion, "if that fellow don't quit boring into me with his eyes I'm going over and hand him something hotter than the fire-water he gits over the bar of the Golden Arrow. It's beginning to get on my nerves. "But watch out. He's got something else on his mind now I reckon," warned Jesse suddenly. The green baize door had swung in and the man who was entering let it close to behind him with a snap, as he quickly stepped inside. His hands fell to his holsters as he swept the room in one quick comprehensive glance. "One of Silver City's bullies," decided Jesse under his breath. "I know the breed. I believe the pup is going to shoot." At that moment Jesse's glance alighted appreciatively on the sheriff. He was standing with folded arms gazing at the bad man with a challenge in his eyes.