Bat Lajune grinned into the dark as the galloping cow-horse carried
Endicott out upon the trail of Purdy and the girl. "A'm t'ink dat wan
good job. Mebbe-so de pilgrim keel Purdy, _bien_! Mebbe-so Purdy keel
de pilgrim, den de sheriff ketch Purdy an' she got for git hang--dat
pret' good, too. Anyhow, Tex, she don' got for bodder 'bout keel Purdy
no mor'. Tex kin keel him all right, but dat Purdy she damn good shot,
too. Mebbe-so she git de drop on Tex. Den afterwards, me--A'm got to
fool 'roun' an' keel Purdy, an' mebbe-so A'm hang for dat, too. Wat de
hell!"

A man rode up to the corral and tied his horse to the fence. The
half-breed drew into the shadow. "Dat Sam Moore," he muttered. "She
dipity sher'ff, an' she goin' try for git 'lect for de beeg sher'ff dis
fall. Mebbe-so she lak' for git chanct for 'rest som'one. A'm goin'
see 'bout dat." He stepped to the side of the man, who started
nervously and peered into his face.

"Hello, Bat, what the devil you doin' prowlin' around here? Why hain't
you in dancin'?"

The half-breed shrugged: "Me, A'm no lak' for dance mooch. She don' do
no good. Anyhow, A'm hont 'roun' for fin' you. A'm t'ink mebbe-so you
better com' 'long wit' me."

"Come along with you! What's on yer mind?" Suddenly the man
straightened: "Say, look a here, if you're up to helpin' Tex Benton
pull off any gag on me, you've picked the wrong hand, see!"

The other shook his head vigorously: "_Non_! Tex, she goin' in de