With a stifled cry Buck struggled to his feet to face his assailant, drawing his gun instinctively. The knife had bitten too deeply, however. With a groan he fell; weakly he tried to level his gun, his finger twitching convulsively at the trigger. Peruna waited to see if he had strength enough to fire. A sneering smile added to the evil appearance of his face. Seeing Buck helpless, he snatched the gun from his hand. Then he turned his victim over so he could reach the pocket of his waistcoat. With the blood-stained knife he ripped open the cloth and extracted a roll of paper and money. Peruna was kneeling beside the body of his former friend, when a voice drawled: "Drop that knife!" Peruna jumped up with a grunt of dismay to see Slim Hoover sitting on horseback, with his revolver held upright, ready for use. Peruna hesitated: "Drop it!" ordered Slim sharply, slightly lowering the gun. Peruna tossed away the knife with a snarl. "I'll take care of your friend's bundle, and the papers and money you took from his pocket. Drop them. I didn't figure on gettin' back to business as soon as I got home, but you never can tell. Can you?" The last remark was addressed to his deputy, Timber Wiggins, who had joined him. "This yere's Timber Wiggins, deputy sheriff from Pinal County," explained Slim, for Peruna's enlightenment. "Mr. Wiggins, will you take care of this friend of mine?" continued the Sheriff, glancing from Peruna, who looked at him stolidly, to Wiggins. "I reckon he's been doin' something naughty." The two men dismounted, keeping the outlaw covered and watching his every glance. "Anything to oblige," replied Wiggins, who had solemnly entered with Slim into his assumed formality. Wiggins stepped behind Peruna, and reaching forward, removed Buck's gun from the outlaw's holster, which had been empty since Buck, earlier in the day, had taken his revolver after he had insulted Echo. "Anything to oblige," said Wiggins to Slim. Then to Peruna he commanded: "Let's take a walk. You first. I'm noted for my politeness." "You might tie him up some," suggested Slim. "I sure will," answered the deputy, as he marched his prisoner toward the corral. Slim hastened to the side of the fallen man, and turned him over on his back to get a glimpse of Peruna's victim. He saw that Buck was still breathing although mortally wounded, the blood gushing from his mouth. McKee recognized the Sheriff. "Hullo! when did you git back?" he asked. "Jes' now. Is this your money?" said Slim, holding the roll in front of McKee's eyes. "No; it's your'n. Part o' what I took from 'Ole Man' Terrill. The idee o' not recognizin' your own property!" McKee grinned at his joke on the Sheriff. "I held the old man up, and that's all there is to it." "Who was with you?" asked Slim. "There was two." McKee was silent. "Bud Lane was the other man," hazarded Slim. "No--" began Buck, but Slim interrupted him.