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Updated: June 20, 2025
"It ain't possible," said Terry. "Sure it ain't," grinned Purvis amiably, "an' this Barry ain't possible, either. Where you going, Lee?" Haines turned from his task of saddling his mount. "Private matter. Kilduff, you take my place while I'm gone. I may be back tomorrow night. The chief isn't apt to return so soon."
"Get Haines back?" said Kilduff, his voice ominously deep. "There ain't no chance of that. If there was I wouldn't have no kick against the chief for what he's done to Kate." "Maybe there's some chance," suggested Rhinehart. "Chance, hell!" cried Kilduff. "One man agin a whole town full? I say all that Jim has done is to get Whistlin' Dan plugged full of lead."
Daniels, take your gun and git down to the other end of the room an' stand with your face to the wall. I'll stay at this end. Keep your arms folded. Haines, you stand over there an' count up to three. Then holler: 'Fire! an' we'll turn an' start shootin'. The rest of you c'n be judge if that's fair." "Too damned fair," said Kilduff. "I say: String him up an' drill the skunk full of holes."
Rogers offered him a posse. He wouldn't take it." "They's one pint that ain't no nearer bein' solved," said Bill Kilduff in a growl, "an' that's how you're goin' to get Haines loose. Silent, it's up to you. Which you rode away leavin' him behind." Silent took one glance around that waiting circle. Then he nodded. "It's up to me. Gimme a chance to think."
Bill Kilduff, who had a natural inclination and talent for cookery, raked up the deft dying coals of the fire over which he had cooked the supper, and set about preparing bacon and coffee for the newcomer. The latter came forward, and squatted close to the cook, watching the process with a careful eye. He made a sharp contrast with the rest of the group.
"The back door of the cabin!" said Kilduff suddenly. "By God, that's it! They sneaked out there and then went down on the other side of the house." "If I had let them go," interposed Buck, "do you suppose I'd be here?" The keen glance of Silent moved from Buck to Haines, and then back again. He turned his back on them.
Even then the light was dim and uncertain and the draughts set the flame wavering so that the place was shaken with shadows. The moon sent a feeble shaft of light through the window. "One!" said Kilduff. The shoulders of Haines and Silent hunched slightly. "Two!" said Kilduff. "God," whispered someone. "Three. Fire!"
It was close to sunset time when they reached the old Salton place, where they found Silent sitting on the porch with Haines, Kilduff, Jordan, and Rhinehart. They stood up at sight of the newcomers and shouted a welcome. Buck waved his hand, but his thoughts were not for them. The music he had heard Dan whistle formed in his throat. It reached his lips not in sound but as a smile.
The whole group would have accompanied them, but the heavy voice of Jim Silent cut in: "You'll stay here, all of you except the girl and Lee." They turned back, muttering, and Kate followed Haines into the willows. "Well?" growled Bill Kilduff. "What I want to know " broke in Terry Jordan. "Go to hell with your questions," said Silent, "but until you go there you'll do what I say, understand?"
"Well," said Purvis, "if that's done, ain't the game worth while?" The rest of the men chuckled and even Kilduff smiled. "Old Joe Cumberland is sure takin' it hard," said "Calamity" Rhinehart. "All day he's been lightin' into the girl." "The funny part," mused Purvis, "is that the old boy really means it. I think he'd of sawed off his right hand to keep her from goin' to Whistlin' Dan."
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