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"I reckon yore folks will kill the fatted calf for you," jeered Hugh Roush. "They tell me you always been mighty high-heeled, 'Lindy Clanton. Mebbe you won't hold yore head so high now." The girl rode between them down from the hills. Who knows into what an agony of fear and remorse and black despair she fell? She could not go home a cast-off, a soiled creature to be scorned and pointed at.
"We're not goin' to quarrel, Billie. Nothin' to that. But I'm goin' through." The boyish jaw clamped tight again. The eyes that looked at his friend might have been of tempered steel for hardness. "No." "Yes." Clanton was leaning against the rump of his horse. He turned, indolently, gathered his body suddenly, and vaulted to the saddle. Like a shot he was off into the night.
Bud Proctor swung aboard and joined the sheriff. "I cut off the other cars and gave the signal to start," he explained triumphantly. "Good boy, Bud. Knew I could tie to you," Prince answered with the warm smile that always won him friends. They passed into the car together. Clanton was leaning far out of the window waving a mocking hand of farewell to the crowd on the platform.
She made a dinner of spring chicken, mashed potatoes, hot biscuits, jelly, and apple pie. A rider for the Flying V Y dropped in after they had eaten and bridled like a turkey cock at sight of Clanton. "Don't you let him git away from you, Jack," he warned the officer. "We're allowin' to have a holiday on the sixth up at our place so as to go to the show.
Between them and their prey stood one man, cool, indomitable, steady as a rock. He held death in each hand, every man present knew it. They could get Clanton if they were willing to pay the price, but though there were game men in the mob, not one of them wanted to be the first to put his foot on the lower step of the coach. From the other end of the car came the sudden noise of hammering.
"Is it?" Clanton laughed mockingly. "You advise the fellow that tries to collect that reward to get his life insured heavy for his widow." If this was a boast, it was also a warning.
"Yankie up at the ranch?" he asked. "What do you want with him?" demanded Webb brusquely. "I got a message for him." "Who from?" Clanton was conscious of some irritation against this sharp catechism. In point of fact Billie Prince had asked him to notify Yankie that he had heard of the rustling on the berrendo and was taking the trail at once.
I'll take the right flank, Billie." "Do you think there's a chance, Jim?" The voice of Prince shook with emotion. It was the first sign of distress he had given. Clanton reflected just a moment before he answered. "I think there's just a chance. She saved our lives once, Billie. If she's alive we'll find her, you an' me." "By God, yes." Prince turned away.
Prince nodded. "Suits me. We'll make our stand right at the head of the arroyo." He turned abruptly to the girl. "It's got to be good-bye here, Miss Lee." "That's whatever, littlest pilgrim," agreed Clanton promptly. "If you get a chance send word to Webb an' tell him how it was with us." Her lip trembled. She knew that in the shadow of the immediate future red tragedy lurked.
A thin wisp of smoke rose from the revolver lying close to the still hand. Mysterious Pete had died with his boots on after the manner of his kind. Jim Receives and Declines an Offer From the moment that Clanton walked out of the corral and left the dead gunman lying in the dust his reputation was established. Up till that time he had been on probation. Now he was a full-fledged killer.
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