Jim Hogg was fuming for action. The sheriff stared at the ceiling. Tad Hicks and Windy sat on the floor close to the stove and grumbled their impatience. "Hey, Sam," Windy pleaded, "tell a gent why for yuh're delayin' the battle?" "An' who the devil are we goin' to fight?" Tad Hicks added. Sam Hogg threw up his hands and shook his head. What were they waiting for? Allen? He might be dead. Time passed, and all but Toothpick were dozing. He continued his endless pacing. Suddenly he stopped and listened for a moment, then sprang to the back door and threw it open. Sam Hogg and the sheriff jerked to sudden life and crowded after him. Some one was coming. "It's him," Toothpick said exultantly. They heard a faint whistle. With hands on guns they stepped outside. A black blotch materialized from the darkness and Jim-twin Allen hailed them. "That yuh, Toothpick? Who's with yuh?" "Tom Powers and Sam Hogg?" The black blotch crept nearer. "Where can I stable these old bags of bones?" "Is them yuhr grays?" Sam Hogg asked. "Yeah," Allen replied. "Yuh go on in and get warm. Til rub 'em down, feed 'em, and fix 'em pretty," Sam Hogg said eagerly. For a fraction of a second Allen hesitated, then he spoke to the grays. "Thanks," he said as he passed Sam Hogg. Unceremoniously Allen sauntered into the store, sank into a chair near the fire, and called a greeting to Jim Hogg. The sheriff looked at Toothpick, and the latter shook his head; both hesitated to tell him the bad news. They served him a thick sandwich, which he munched in silence, then drank two cups of black coffee. "Well?" he asked when he had finished. Toothpick, Jim Hogg, and the sheriff stirred uneasily. Sam Hogg returned to the room just as the sheriff began to tell his story. Sam Hogg stared at the little outlaw as he listened. This was not the boy he had seen the night before in the judge's house. The freckled face was the same, but it was older. Allen was no longer a laughing youth, but a man whom all respected and, deep down in their hearts, feared. Allen's expression never changed at the faltering accounts of the death of Dutchy and the kidnaping of Snippets. The ex-Ranger got the idea Allen had heard the story before and for some reason was concealing the fact. Tad Hicks opened his sleepy eyes and stared at the little man by the stove. He took one look, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. He nudged Windy, and the plump puncher ceased his snores and sat up. When the sheriff had finished, Toothpick stepped forward with clenched hands. "Jim, Dutchy was my friend, and I want yuh to promise----" he began. Allen interrupted. "I get yuh, but it can't be did. Dutchy was downed by a couple of skunks what was called 'Left Steve' and Bill Ranee----" Sam Hogg now interrupted in his turn. "Did yuh say _was_ called?" he asked.