"Seven besides Craddock, the rest of them went to Kansas City with the cattle you saw leave in them three extras this evening. Craddock's celebratin' his new job, he's leadin' 'em around throwin' everything wide open to 'em without a cent to pay. 'Charge it to me' he said to Peden--I was there when they came in--'charge it to me, I'm payin' this bill.' You know what that means." "I suppose it means that the collection will be deferred," Morgon said, grinning over the city marshal's easy cut to generosity. "Indefinitely postponed," said Conboy, gloomily. "I'm goin' to put all my good cigars in the safe, and do it right now." "Here's something you may put in the safe for me, too," said Morgan, handing over his pocketbook. "Ain't you goin' to leave town?" Conboy asked, hand stayed hesitantly to take the purse. "I've got an appointment with Judge Thayer to look at a piece of land in the morning," Morgan returned. "Well, keep out enough to buy a gun, two of 'em if you're a double-handed man," Conboy counseled. "I've got what I need," said Morgan, putting the purse in Conboy's hand. "I'd say for you to take a walk out to Judge Thayer's and stay all night with him, but them fellers will be around here a couple of weeks, I expect--till the rest of the outfit comes back for their horses. Just one night away wouldn't do you any good." "I couldn't think of it," said Morgan, coldly. "You know your business, I guess," Conboy yielded, doubtfully, "but don't play your luck too far. You made a good grab when you took that feller's gun away from him, but you can't grab eight guns." "You're right," Morgan agreed. "If you're a reasonable man, you'll hit the grit out of this burg," Conboy urged. "You said they were at Peden's?" "First dance house you come to, the biggest one in town. You don't need to tip it off that I said anything. No niggers in Ireland, you know." "Not a nigger," said Morgan. As he stepped into the street, Morgan had no thought of going in any direction save that which would bring him in conjunction with the men who sought him. If he began to run at that stage of his experiences, he reasoned, he would better make a streak of it that would take him out of the country as fast as his feet would carry him. If those riders of the Chisholm Trail were going to be there a week or two, he could not dodge them, and it might be that by facing them unexpectedly and talking it over man to man before they got too far along in their spree, the grievance they held against him on Seth Craddock's account could be adjusted.