"Yes. I'm the last hand." Johnny grinned. "Hark! I hear them coming. Sounds creepy, don't it? They're fussed. Them two shots have got 'em guessing--they're sure burning the breeze! Say, I'm going to slip into my slicker. Storm is right on top of us. Getting mighty black overhead. Twilight lasts pretty quick in this country." Rain spattered in big drops. Wind-blown flare of stars and the last smoky dusk and flickers of lightning made a thin greenish light. Shadowy horsemen shaped furiously through the murk, became clear, and reined beside them. Dines took one look at them and directed a reproachful glance at his captor. "I might not have handed over my gun so nice and easy if I had known who was with you," he remarked pleasantly. A high spot of color flamed to his cheek. "Just for that, you are going to lose the beauties of my conversation from now on--by advice of counsel. While you are putting on your slickers I merely wish to make a plain brief statement and also to call attention to one of the many mercies which crowd about us, and for which we are so ungrateful. Mercies first: Did you ever notice how splendidly it has been arranged that one day follows directly after another, instead of in between? And that maybe we're sometimes often quite sorry some day for what we did or didn't do some other day, or the reverse, as the case may be, or perhaps the contrary? Now the statement: I know two of you men, and I don't like those two; and for the others, I don't like the company they keep. So now you can all go to hell, home or Hillsboro, and take me with you, but I'll not entertain you, not if you was bored to death. I'm done and dumb--till I tell it to the judge." X "When the high heart we magnify And the sure vision celebrate, And worship greatness passing by-- Ourselves are great." --JOHN DRINKWATER.