"Now, take your friend and both of you hit the trail out of town,"
ordered the cattleman.

Blair had by this time got to his feet and was leaning stupidly on a
chair. His companion helped him from the room. At the door he turned
and glared at Dingwell.

"You're going to pay for this--and pay big," he spat out, his voice
shaking with rage.

"Oh, that's all right," answered Dingwell easily.

The game broke up. Rutherford nodded a good-night to the cattleman and
left with Meldrum. Presently Dave noticed that Buck and the rest of
the clan had also gone. Only Slim Sanders was left, and he was playing
the wheel.

"Time to hit the hay," Dave yawned.

The bartender called "Good-night" as Dingwell went out of the swinging
doors. He said afterward that he thought he heard the sound of
scuffling and smothered voices outside. But his interest in the matter
did not take him as far as the door to find out if anything was wrong.




Chapter IV