"You're both wrong and you got about three hours to find it out in,"
said Pete.

Malvey and The Spider glanced at one another. Evidently Pete was more
shrewd than they had suspected. And evidently he would be followed to
Showdown.

"It's a killing," whispered The Spider. "I thought that it was. How
do you size him up?"

"Pretty smooth--for a kid," said Malvey.

"Worth a blanket?" queried The Spider, which meant, worth hiding from
the law until such time as| a blanket was not necessary.

"I'd say so."

They turned and entered the saloon. The Spider crept from the middle
of his web and made plain his immediate desire. "Strangers are welcome
in Showdown, riding single," he told Pete. "We aren't hooked up to
entertain a crowd. If you got friends coming--friends that are
suffering to see you--why, you ain't here when they come. _And you
ain't been here_. If nobody is following your smoke, why, take your
time."

"I'll be takin' my hoss when he gits done feedin'," stated Pete.

The Spider nodded approval. Showdown had troubles of its own.

"Malvey, did you say you were riding south?"