"Surely? You won't disappoint us?" The man regarded her reproachfully: "You don't think I'd lie to you?" "No, forgive me, I--" she paused and looked straight into his eyes, "and, will you promise me one thing more?" "Tell me straight out what it is, an' I'll tell you straight out what I'll do." "Promise me you won't drink any more until--until after you've seen Win." The Texan hesitated: "It's only a couple of days. Yes, I'll promise," he answered, "an', now, what's your plan?" Alice glanced toward the door, and leaned closer: "It really isn't my plan at all," she whispered, "but there's a man out there with a big, drooping faded-looking moustache, he said you did him a good turn by not shooting him, or something----" "Ike Stork," grinned the Texan. Alice nodded: "Yes, that's his name, and he said to tell you it was the best bet, whatever that is." "I get him. Go on." "Well, he says there's some kind of a chute that they slide the beer-kegs down into the cellar with, and for you to go down and climb up the chute. It will let you out into the alley between this building and the livery stable. The marshal hasn't thought of posting any guards there, and Ike's horse is tied in the alley, and you're to take him and make a dash out the front way, right through the crowd. He says they'll all fall over each other and be so scared that they won't think to shoot till you've had a chance to get away." As the girl talked she could see that the Texan's eyes twinkled and when she finished, his shoulders were shaking with silent mirth: "Good old Ike!" he chuckled. "You tell him I say he's a bear!" "He said it would be fun to see them trample over each other getting out of the way." "I'll sure see that he gets his money's worth," grinned the Texan. A troubled look crept into the girl's face: "You won't--_hurt_ anyone?" she asked. The man shook his head: "Not onless some of 'em don't get out of the road. Might knock down a few with the horse, but that won't hurt 'em to speak of. It wouldn't pain me none to knock that marshal about half ways down the street--not for anything he's done to me, but because I've got a hunch he talked pretty rough to you." "Oh, I hope it's all right," whispered the girl, "do you really think it will work?" "Work! Of course it'll work! I've got it all pictured out right now. It's a peach! Just you get off to one side far enough so's not to get caught in the rush, an' you'll see some fun. Tell Ike not to forget to put up an awful howl about losin' his cayuse, just to make the play good." "Do you think he's really sincere--that it isn't just a trick to get you out where they can shoot you? How long have you known this Ike Stork?" "Dead sure." The Texan's tone was reassuring, "known him a good half-hour. You ought to seen those eyes of his when he thought I was goin' to shoot him--never flinched a hair. He's a good man, told me to hurry up an' make a job of it."