"Again? Robbery?" That was Winch's untroubled voice, always gay. "When was the other time, pardner?" "He robbed me once of three thousand dollars. Now what?" "Now," said Winch coolly, loosening his rope an inch or two but still on guard, "it's only what I said before: You are to meet him at the Gallup House, and I'm responsible for your coming. So we're taking you." Deveril lay very still, two brawny men upon him. When he made no immediate reply Winch waited patiently and knew, as the girl knew, that a man must be given a moment in such circumstances to collect his wits. Deveril's panting gradually gave over to more quiet breathing; he lay flat on his back and saw the two heads bending over his own and, beyond them, the stars. He started once to speak, but clamped his lips tight. Still, in high tolerant patience, Billy Winch waited upon him while Lynette Brooke, trembling from head to foot with excitement, waited in burning impatience. "You got me, boys." She could scarcely recognize Deveril's voice; at first she thought that it was one of the other men speaking. "That's sensible." That was Billy Winch. Again he loosened his rope. "I guess," Deveril went on quietly, "that the three of you, jumping me like that, regular Standing sneak-style, can lead me down to Gallup's. Or, if you care to let me up, I'll save you the trouble, and will go without your help." "That's your promise?" queried Winch. "Yes ... damn you." "That's fair. Let him go, boys." The two men holding him down, got to their feet and went back to their horses as if, their bit of work done, they had lost all interest, as perhaps they had. Deveril got to his feet and cast the rope off. Winch drew it in, coiled it, and tied it at his saddle strings. "Most any time now," he said casually. "He's on his way and due in a dozen minutes. All you got to do is listen for him!" Deveril stood, both arms stiffening at his sides, his head lifted high, looking straight at Winch. "Some fine day," he said with low-toned quiet anger, "I'll get you or I'll get him. And it will be a great day!" "It sure will, Kid," laughed Winch. "_Adios_, and all best wishes." The three riders, all seated by now, sped away, their horses kicking up the fine dust fragrant with fallen pine-needles. Deveril remained, rigid and angry, looking after them. "You don't know," he said heavily, as the pounding hoof beats dwindled and the scurrying blurs of figures faded, "you don't know and can't guess...." And when he remained where he was, stiff, hands clinched at his sides and face lifted to the stars, she thought that for an instant it was given her to glimpse for the first time in her life something of the realities working in a man's very soul. Almost she could see the hot tears in his angry eyes.