He led the way into a back room and placed the lamp on a table littered with cards and a black bottle looming in the centre. "Drink?" "Nope. I said I came on business." "What kind?" "Bard." "I thought so." "I want a posse." "What's he done?" "Killed Calamity Ben at Drew's place, started a fire that near burned the house, and lifted Duffy's hoss." Glendin whistled softly. "Nice little start." "Sure, and it's just a beginnin' for this Bard." "I'll go out to Drew's place and see what he's done." "And then start after him with a gang?" "Sure." "By that time he'll be a thousand miles away." "Well?" "I'm running this little party. Let me get a gang together. You can swear 'em in and put me in charge. I'll guarantee to get him before morning." Glendin shook his head. "It ain't legal, Steve. You know that." "The hell with legality." "That's what you say; but I got to hold my job." "You'll do your part by goin' to Drew's place with Doc Young. He'll be here with Shorty Kilrain in a minute." "And let you go after Bard?" "Right." "Far's I know, you may jest shoot him down and then come back and say you done it because he resisted arrest." "Well?" "You admit that's what you want, Steve?" "Absolute." "Well, partner, it can't be done. That ain't apprehendin' a man. It's jest plain murder." "D'you think you could ever catch that bird alive?" "Dunno, I'd try." "Never in a thousand years." "He don't know the country. He'll travel in a circle and I'll ride him down." "He's got somebody with him that knows the country better'n you or me." "Who?" The face of Nash twisted into an ugly grimace. "Sally Fortune." "The hell!" "It is; but it's true." "It ain't possible. Sally ain't the kind to make a fool of herself about any man, let alone a gun-fighter." "That's what I thought, but I seen her back up this Bard ag'in' a roomful of men. And she'll keep on backin' him till he's got his toes turned up." "That's another reason for you to get Bard, eh? Well, I can't send you after him, Nash. That's final." "Not a bit. I know too much about you, Glendin." The glance of the other raised slowly, fixed on Nash, and then lowered to the floor. He produced papers and Durham, rolled and lighted his cigarette, and inhaled a long puff. "So that's the game, Steve?" "I hate to do it." "Let that go. You'll run the limit on this?" "Listen, Glendin. I've got to get this Bard. He's out-ridden me, out-shot me, out-gamed me, out-lucked me, out-guessed me--and taken Sally. He's mine. He b'longs all to me. D'you see that?" "I'm only seein' one thing just now." "I know. You think I'm double-crossin' you. Maybe I am, but I'm desperate, Glendin." "After all," mused the deputy, "you'd be simply doin' work I'd have to do later. You're right about this Bard. He'll never be taken alive."