Pop Howes had another drink, then wandered across the street to the Ace High. Here he found Hard-rock Hogan and confided his good news to him in a whisper which was clearly audible to several men standing near. By the time Pop had had another two drinks and had repeated the story several more times, always in confidence, he began to believe it himself and gave it a real ring of truth. Jim-twin Allen followed him about and watched him. Several times he chuckled to himself. "Darn me, if Pop ain't turnin' into a real fancy liar!" Presently Allen wandered out and started a search of the various saloons. He found the man he sought playing stud poker in the back room of the Red Blood Saloon at the far edge of town. Allen whispered to him and went out again; he walked out of town a short distance, seated himself on a rock, and started whistling. "Slivers" Hart, the young card player, waited several minutes and then cashed in his chips and left the bar. He was very slender and but a few inches taller than Allen. He had straw-colored hair and laughing, reckless eyes, but his mouth was hard and bitter. "Hello, Slivers! I want yuh to do me a favor," Allen greeted him a few moments later. "Yuh saved me from wearin' a necktie once, so shoot," the other said quietly. "'Tain't much. I want yuh to go to the other end of the town an' sorta watch an' see if any one leaves in a hurry," directed Allen. "Then, if some one comes a-runnin' back, an' if he's a plumb important person, sorta foller him an' see where he goes." "Is that all?" "Yep, for now." Allen suddenly remembered he had not eaten that evening. After Slivers left him, he went into a Chinese restaurant, hastily devoured a steak, and then wandered back to the Ace High. He saw Pop sitting with several friends at a table in the rear. As Jim neared a group of men standing at the bar they grew silent, and he knew they had been discussing Jack Allen. He ordered a drink. "Yuh driftin' to-night? I see yuh got your grays all packed," the bartender said genially. "Reckon so. I hears tell that brother of mine is goin' to post his list to-morrow, so I figgers on gettin' out of town afore he tells me to get." Allen grinned. He waited and consumed another drink before going outside. At the hitching rail he swung onto the back of his saddled horse and waved his hand toward a group of loafers. "S'long, fellers! To hell with this town, I say!" he called back with a laugh. And, riding slowly, Jim-twin Allen passed down the street and out of the town. A mile farther on he climbed the banks of the gulch and hid his grays in a clump of trees. Then he hurried back toward town, his rifle under one arm. He skirted Goldville and cautiously approached the trail that led to the American Beauty. Here he found Slivers Hart waiting for him. "About an hour ago a feller went by so fast I couldn't tell who it was," Slivers informed him.