He had definitely made his bluff. He would have to make good. And he no more knew how to make good in the business than the year-old baby busy with its toes. But ere this men have killed dragons and made wonders come to pass all for the sake of their ladies' eyes. Men as prosaic and matter-of-fact as the puncher, Racey Dawson. Quite so. Half-an-hour after the departure of Luke Tweezy Mr. Saltoun and Tom Loudon rode in on lathered horses. They were, it seemed, journeying homeward from the 88 whither they had gone in an endeavour to persuade Lanpher and Tweezy to sell the Dale mortgage. "Tweezy, huh?" said Racey. "He's just left here." "He must 'a' rode like the devil," said Mr. Saltoun. "He was in the office with Lanpher when we left." "I thought I noticed a feller off to the south of us as we come along," observed Loudon. "He was just a-boilin'. I only saw him the once as he slid by the mouth of a draw. Looked like he was trying to keep out of sight. Rode a gray hoss." "Tweezy rode a gray," nodded Racey. "Him, all right. What did he want here, Racey?" "Offered Mis' Dale one thousand cold if she'd pull her freight." "She ain't gonna do it, is she?" demanded the alarmed Mr. Saltoun. Racey shook his head. "She's gonna stick." "She must. Hell, yes. Those papers of Luke's are forged. I know they are." "So does everybody else," put in Tom Loudon, "but if something don't turn up damn quick--" He broke off, shaking a dubious head. "Something will," declared Racey, making his bluff a second time with an air of supreme confidence. "You know something, Racey," prodded Mr. Saltoun who prided himself on his perspicacity. "Whadda you know?" "I ain't telling it," answered Racey, coolly. "I ain't coming back to the ranch to-day, neither." "Oh, you ain't. Listen to the new owner, Tom." "That's all right," said Racey. "If I'm going to do the world any good I've got to have a free hand." "You can have two of 'em," conceded Mr. Saltoun. "The bridle's off." "Aw right, I'll take Swing Tunstall," Racey hastened to say. "I meant yore own two hands," demurred Mr. Saltoun. "I know you did, but I meant the other kind. Listen, do you want Lanpher and Tweezy to get this ranch?" "---- it, no!" "Then gimme Swing Tunstall." "Take him. Need anybody else? Wouldn't you like all the rest of the outfit, and me, too?" "My Gawd, no. This is a job requirin' brains." "Say, lookit here, Racey--" "When you get to the ranch tell Swing to come along soon as he can," interrupted Racey. "I'll be expecting him." Tuckety-tuck! Tuckety-tuck! Somewhere beyond the cottonwood grove surrounding Moccasin Spring a galloping horse was coming in. A moment later horse and rider shot past the tail of the cottonwood grove, and bore down on the house. "Marie!" exclaimed Racey. "And riding one of my hosses," observed Mr. Saltoun. At that instant Marie caught sight of the three men and swerved her mount toward them.