backward and the shock cleared his vision. Opposite him two men held
Fadeaway, whose mouth was bleeding. The puncher was struggling to get
at his gun.

Corliss laughed. "Got you that time, you thief!"

"He's crazy drunk," said one of the men. "Don't get het up, Fade. He
ain't packin' a gun."

Fadeaway cursed and wiped the blood from his mouth. He was playing his
part well. Accident had helped him. To all intents and purposes they
were open enemies.

Still, he was afraid Corliss would talk, so he laughed and extended his
hand. "Shake, Billy. I guess you didn't know what you were doin'. I
was tryin' to keep you from fallin'."

Corliss stared at the other with unwinking eyes.

Fadeaway laughed and turned toward the bar. "Ought to hand him one,
but he's all in now, I reckon. That's what a fella gets for mixin' up
with kids. Set 'em up, Joe."

Left to himself Corliss stared about stupidly. Then he started for the
doorway.

As he passed Fadeaway, the latter turned and seized his arm. "Come on
up and forget it, Billy. You and me's friends, ain't we?"

The cowboy, by sheer force of his personality, dominated the now