staring down at Slim Dugan. Slim had not risen. His thin, lithe body was
coiled, and he reminded Terry in ugly fashion of a snake ready to strike.
His hand was not near his gun. It was the calm courage and self-
confidence of a man who is sure of himself and of his enemy. Terry had
heard of it before, but never seen it. As for Phil, it was plain that he
was ill at ease in spite of his bulk and the advantage of his position.
He was ready to fight. But he was not at all pleased with the prospect.

Terry again glanced at the witnesses. Every one of them was alert, but
there was none of that fear which comes in the faces of ordinary men when
strife between men is at hand. And suddenly Terry knew that every one of
the five men in the room was an old familiar of danger, every one of them
a past master of gun fighting!



CHAPTER 24


The uneasy wait continued for a moment or more. The whisper of Joe
Pollard to his daughter barely reached the ear of Terry.

"Cut in between 'em, girl. You can handle 'em. I can't!"

She responded instantly, before Terry recovered from his shock of
surprise.

"Slim, keep away from your gun!"

She spoke as she whirled from her chair to her feet. It was strange to