"Shoo! An' suppose I did shoot him, I done a good job, didn't I?"

"Yu did the worst job yu could do, yu highway robber," softly said
Hopalong, at the same time moving nearer. "Harris knew yu stopped th'
stage last month, an' that's why yu've been dodgin' him."

"Yore a liar!" shouted Thirsty, reaching for his gun.

The movement was fatal, for before he could draw, the Colt in
Hopalong's holster leaped out and flashed from its owner's hip and
Thirsty fell sideways, face down in the dust of the street.

Hopalong started toward the fallen man, but as he did so a shot rang
out from behind the store and he pitched forward, stumbled and rolled
behind the bowlder. As he stumbled his left hand streaked to his hip,
and when he fell he had a gun in each hand.

As he disappeared from sight Goodeye and Bill Jones stepped from
behind the store and started to run away. Not able to resist the
temptation to look again, they stopped and turned and Bil1 laughed.

"Easy as sin," he said.

"Run, yu fool-Red an' Buck'll be here. Want to git plugged?"
shouted Goodeye angrily.

They turned and started for a group of ponies twenty yards away,
and as they leaped into the saddles two shots were fired from the
street. As the reports died away Buck and Red turned the corner of the
store, Colts in hand, and, checking their rush as they saw the saddles