"Yes. He took a pilgrim's girl out on the bench an' the pilgrim got wise to it an' dug out after 'em. Got there just in time an' took a shot at Purdy an' got him." "Land sakes! I'm glad he did! If they was a few more pilgrims like him that would get about half the rest of you, maybe the others would turn decent, or take to the brush." The Texan laughed. "Anyway Purdy's dead, an' they've got the pilgrim locked up, an' the girl's held fer a witness, an' I told Sam Moore I'd take a shot at him if he locked her up wherever he's goin' to lock up the pilgrim--in the wool-warehouse I reckon. Anyhow, he told her to go to the hotel an' specified me fer a guard." "Oh, he did, did he? Well jest you wait 'til I get my hat. I guess maybe she'll be safer with _two_ guards." With a meaning look the girl hurried away and a moment later returned and followed the Texan from the room. "Why was you so anxious she was to have Number 11, if what you've told me is on the level?" she asked, as they approached the hotel. "I don't know, yet, exactly. But I've got a hunch they'll be somethin' doin' a little later." "Uh-huh, an' I'll be right there when it's doin', too. An' you can bet your last blue one on that!" Alice Marcum swung unassisted to the ground as the two approached. And as she glanced into the wide, friendly eyes of the girl she felt deeply grateful to the Texan for bringing a woman. Then the woman was speaking: "Come right along in the house. I'm Jennie Dodds, an' I'll see't you get settled comfortable. Tex, he told me all about it. Land sakes! I bet you feel proud! Who'd a thought any pilgrim could a got Jack Purdy! Where's your grip?" "Gosh! I plumb forgot!" exclaimed the cowboy, and started for his horse. "I'll be back with yer war-bag in a minute." A few moments later, he returned to the hotel carrying a leather bag. "I'm goin' to kind of slip around among the boys a bit. I've be'n doin' some thinkin' an maybe we can figger a way out. I don't quite like the way things is shapin' up. I'll be wantin' most likely to see you in a while----" "We'll both be here," interrupted Jennie. "_Both_ of us. We'll be in Number 11." Outside the hotel the Texan paused to roll and light a cigarette, and as he blew the smoke from his lungs, he smiled cynically. "Purdy's work was so damn coarse he got just what was comin' to him. There's only me an' the pilgrim, now--an' it's me an' him for it. I ain't plumb got the girl sized up yet. If she's straight--all right. She'll stay straight. If she ain't---- They say everything's fair in love an' war, an' bein' as it's my deal the pilgrim's got to go up against a stacked deck. An' if things works out right, believe me, he's a-goin' to know he's be'n somewhere by the time he gets back--if he ever does get back." For the third time that evening he entered the dance-hall and avoiding the dancers made his way leisurely toward the bar that ran along one side of the room.