"It's quite a list," he said to himself. "Block, Rufe Cutting, Blakely, an' the whole 88 outfit. An' they won't be happy till they get me. It kind o' looks as if Blakely ain't expectin' to keep our little engagement in Farewell. Block wouldn't 'a' come up here without Blakely sent him." Thoughts of Blakely quite naturally induced thoughts of Pete O'Leary. Where was O'Leary? Loudon recollected that he had not seen O'Leary in the crowd. He looked up and down the street. O'Leary was nowhere in sight. His absence was a small thing in itself, but it might signify a guilty conscience. Loudon wondered. That disreputable person, Scotty Mackenzie, approached, leading his horse. "Tom," said Scotty, his blue eyes twinkling, "don't look so downhearted. He wasn't worth shootin'." "I dunno, Scotty," replied Loudon. "It'll come to it some day, or I miss my guess." "Yuh'll miss it while yo're workin' for me. Block won't never come to the Bend again, an' yuh can go the limit on that. D'juh get the mail?" "I ain't been to the post office. Didn't have time. I've been right busy ever since I sifted in." "I'll get it then. Cap'n Burr wants yuh to eat dinner at his house. I'll drift round later. Better finish up what yuh come to town for before yuh eat." "I come to town to meet you." "To meet me!" exclaimed Scotty. "Now look here, Tom, do I look like I need a gardeen?" "Didn't yuh write to Doubleday," said the bewildered Loudon, "tellin' him to send me in to meet yuh here to-day an' for me to ride my own hoss?" "What are yuh talkin' about? Me write Doubleday! I should say not!" "Well, all I know is Doubleday got a letter from yuh, an' it was mailed in Rocket." "Mailed in Rocket! Why, I never was in Rocket! It's just luck me bein' here to-day. If I hadn't met Ben Burr down at the Wagonwheel I wouldn't 'a' come for another couple o' days, mebbe." "It's damn funny. That letter from Rocket is no dream." "I hope Doubleday saves the letter. Well, you go on an' eat. See yuh later." Loudon swung into the saddle and galloped to the house of Captain Burr. On the doorsill Dorothy Burr and Pete O'Leary sat side by side. As Loudon dismounted Miss Bunrose to meet him. "Oh, Mr. Loudon!" she exclaimed, "I've just heard about your frightful experience. I wish I'd been there. I'd have enjoyed seeing them plaster up that brute of a sheriff." "He did look kind o' odd," said Loudon. "Yore ma shore saved my life." "Wasn't it luck Ma was down street? I usually go myself, but this morning Mr. O'Leary came, so Ma went. We didn't know there was anything going on till Ma came back and told us, and then it was all over. My! I'd like to have seen Ma talking to that stupid Dan Smith. The big idiot! Ma's mad yet. Oh, I forgot. Have you met Mr. O'Leary?" "I know him," said Loudon rather ungraciously, and nodded to the gentleman in question. "I guess I'll put the little hoss in the corral."