The thud of horse's hoofs sounded from close at hand. The two men outside lay flat in the shadow of the house. A shrill whistle, twice repeated, called Carp to his feet and he crossed to the door to answer it. Morrow dismounted and came to the door. He nodded briefly to Slade, hesitating on the sill as if surprised to find him there. Carp lost no time in stating his proposition. He spoke jerkily. "I want to get out," he said. "I'll sell for five dollars a head." Morrow held up a hand to silence him. "I'll likely buy--but I never talk business in a crowd." He crossed the room and sat with his back to the window. "There's plenty of time." "I take it I'm the crowd," Slade remarked. "So I'll step out." Morrow stiffened suddenly in his chair as a cold ring was pressed against the back of his neck through the crack of the window. At the same instant Carp had tilted back and raised one knee. The gun that rested on his leg was peeping over the table at Slade. "Steady!" he ordered. "Sit tight!" The window was thrown up to its full height by Waddles and the curtain snatched away from the gun which Harris held against Morrow's neck. Carp's apparent nervousness had vanished. He flipped back his vest and revealed a marshal's badge. "I'd as soon take you along feet first as any way," he said. "So if you feel like acting up you can start any time now." Slade's eyes came back from the two men at the window and rested on the badge. "So that's it," he said with evident relief. "A real arrest--when I figured it was an old-fashioned murder you had planned. What do you want with me?" Waddles had reached down and removed Morrow's gun. "A number of things," Carpenter said. "Obstructing the homestead laws for one." Slade shook his head and smiled. "You've got the wrong party," he said. "You can't prove anything on me." "I don't count on that," Carp said. "You've covered up right well. We know you work through Morrow but can't prove a word. We've got enough to hang him; but I expect maybe you'll get off." There was a scrape of feet outside the door and the sheriff entered and took possession of Slade's gun as Harris and Waddles moved round from the window and went inside. "I'm a few minutes late," Alden said. "I wasn't right sure how close I was to the house so I left my horse too far back." "Here's your prisoners," Carp said. "Captured and delivered as agreed. I haven't anything on Slade myself but if you want him he's yours." "What do you want with me?" Slade demanded a second time. "I'm picking you up on complaint make by the Three Bar," Alden said. "I'll have to take you along." Slade turned on Harris. "What charge?" he asked. "Killing twelve Three Bar bulls on the last day of August," Harris stated. "I was out with the ranger," Slade said. "Back in the hills. You know that yourself. That charge won't stick." "Then maybe it was the second of May," Harris returned. "I sort of forget."