"It’s more than that," smiled Tex. "It’s notice that it’s time to try that .38, Miss Saunders," he announced. "She is learning to use a gun, Tommy--I’ve been telling her how much fun it is. I’ll call th’ shots while you stand by her to answer questions. Suppose we have a more suitable target, this time. What can we use?" Tommy grinned expansively. "Who’s goin’ to do th’ shootin’?" he demanded. "Miss Saunders," answered Tex. "Why?" "Oh; all right then--here, prop up my hat," offered Tommy; "But not too all-fired close!" he warned. "There’s chivalry for you, Mr. Jones!" triumphantly exclaimed Jane, her eyes dancing. "Think so?" queried Tex, grinning. "Huh!" He shook his head. "I’d say he is not paying you any compliment. Just for that I hope you shoot it to pieces." He took the sombrero from Tommy’s extended hand, went down and crossed the creek bed, and placed the hat against the opposite bank. Stepping off twenty paces he drew a line on the earth with the side of his boot sole and beckoned to the flushed markswoman. "That hat is a pressing danger," he warned. "You’ve got to get it, or it’ll get you. Don’t be careless, and don’t waste any sympathy on the grinning wretch who owns it." "But I don’t want to ruin it," she protested. "Surely something else will answer?" "You go ahead an’ ruin it, if you can," chuckled Tommy. "Don’t _you_ worry none--_I_ ain’t!" "I do believe it wasn’t a compliment, or chivalry, at all," she laughed. "All right, Mr. Watkins: here goes for a new hat!" Slowly, deliberately, holding her arm as she had been instructed, she aimed and fired until the weapon was empty. The hat had a hole near one edge of the crown and another near the edge of the brim. "Glory be!" exclaimed Tommy. "I’m votin’ for a new target! Why that’s plumb fine, Miss Saunders--if it ain’t an accident!" "Let’s see if it was," suggested Tex, handing her another round of cartridges. "Here!" he exclaimed, glancing at Tommy. "Where you goin’ so fast?" "To collect th’ ruins," retorted the puncher over his shoulder. "_You_ got a hat, ain’t you?" "I have, and I’m keeping it right where it belongs," rejoined Tex. "I didn’t suggest that it was any accident, did I?" *CHAPTER X* *SPEED AND GUILE* Tex and Tommy said their adieus, watched Jane enter the house, and then rode slowly toward the station where, after a few words with Jerry Saunders, Tommy went on alone, leaving Tex talking with the agent.