“Hell!” said Caldwell, and laughed in a high thin treble as he pulled his horse around, “you’re amusin’, Bossick.” “Yes,” snapped Bossick balefully, “your whole bunch seems quite hilarious. Now, get out of Cordova.” Without another word being passed on either side the Sky Line men rode out in a compact bunch, Provine and Basford nursing their hurts, the rest silent. Bossick turned to the stranger. “I want to thank you, Mister,” he said, “for being here.” “It was a very great pleasure,” said Brand Fair, alias Smith. “I thought perhaps I’d forgotten how to shoot.” With that he mounted Diamond and rode away, but two hours later he was waiting for Bossick on his home trail, where he intercepted him. “Mr. Bossick,” he said, “I think you’re solid, so I take this liberty. I want to tell you that Sheriff Selwood and myself have picketed Sky Line for some weeks, alternately—so it _was_ a Cathrew man who shot him, beyond question. Now let’s talk.” A little later Bossick knew all that Brand and the sheriff knew concerning the hidden passage that opened into Blue Stone, and he was softly profane with amazement. “There’s Old Man Conlan,” he told Fair, “and Jermyn and Reston farther up, who can be depended on. We’ll go to them at once.” “I didn’t trust McKane,” said Fair, “do you?” “In one way he’s all right—in another, no. He’s crazy over Cattle Kate Cathrew and would certainly serve her if possible. It’s best he doesn’t know any more than he does. You were wise to come out here to talk.” Fair laughed. “I’ve set a guard around the sheriff’s house,” he said, “put six of his cowboys on double shift. I knew they would find out that he is still alive and might try to finish the job—so he would never talk—Sky Line, I mean. And now, Mr. Bossick, I think we’d better go talk to Jermyn and the rest. I’m only sorry Selwood isn’t able to be with us.” * * * * * “This is a pretty bunch to bring back to me, Caldwell,” said Kate Cathrew, tapping her foot with a whip, “one man disabled and another pounded into jelly. Who’s this damn stranger who’s so handy with his gun?” “Name’s Smith,” said the foreman sulkily, “and I’d better tell you right now, that Selwood isn’t dead. He’s alive and they’re waiting for him to come round so he can—talk.” Cattle Kate’s face flamed red. “_Not dead?_ Bring Provine here!” But she would not wait as was her wont when summoning her men. She whirled and strode along the veranda to meet Provine who came in no good grace. “I’ve a notion to kill you on the spot!” she cried furiously, “you fool bungler! Of all the crazy, wild, impossible things! Why didn’t you _get_ that man? The one person in the world who knew of The Flange and Rainbow’s Pot behind! You let him get away!” “Done my best,” said the man evilly, “an’ to hell with those who don’t like it.” Quick as a flash the woman raised her whip and struck him.