dance-hall. She don' know nuthin' 'bout w'at A'm know."

"What you drivin' at? Come on, spit 'er out! I hain't a-goin' to fool
'round here all night an' miss the dancin'."

Bat stepped closer: "Two mans an' wan 'oman gon' up de trail. A'm
t'ink som'one goin' for git keel. Mebbe-so we better gon' up an' see
'bout dat."

"You're crazy as hell! The trail's free, hain't it? What business I
got hornin' in on 'em? I come to town for to take in the dance, an'
I'm a-goin' to. Besides it's a good chanct to do a little
'lectioneerin'." Once more Bat shrugged, and turning away, began to
untie his horse.

"Four Ace Johnson, over 'crost de riv', she dipity sher'ff, too. A'm
hear she goin' run for de beeg sher'ff, nex' fall. A'm gon' over an'
see if she no lak' to go 'long an' mak' de arres' if som'ting happen.
Mebbe-so w'en de votin' tam' com' 'long de men lak' for hav' Choteau
County sher'ff w'at kin mak' de arres' better as de sher'ff w'at kin
dance good. _Voila_!" Without so much as a glance toward the other,
he slipped into his saddle and started slowly down the alley. Before
he reached the street Moore's horse pushed up beside him.

"Where's this here outfit?" he growled, with a glance toward the
dance-hall lights, "an' what makes you think they's a-goin' to be
gun-fightin'?"

"A'm t'ink dey ain' so far," replied the half-breed as he swung into
the trail at a trot. And although the impatient deputy plied him with