g din of chaff and laughter filled the room, and no one except Little Jack Wilder noticed the entrance of a Mexican at the street door. He heard the step, turned quickly, and

r, but did you send some

are? No; what

ng forward demanding, "Is she gone

un," the Mexican said excitedly, and eve

ne!" shou

hat was he like?" d

ye?" yelled Wilder, towering threat

s breast, and answered deliberately, "He was a Mexican,

e it at last! Hoora

sun-flooded road, they could see a dark object, distorted by the

. "Everybody come that wants to," he called over his shoulder. Wilder and Conr

s and browns of the surrounding adobes. Wilder's tall, thin figure was in the lead, bending forward in the saddle like a sapling in a gale, the wide, limp brim of his sombrero flapping in

tching the fugitive. The Mexican, Gonzalez, watched Conrad closely as he sped by, and said carelessly to the

ahead of them, galloped the Mexican. Tillinghurst measured the distance with a careful eye, and said to Conrad, "He's our meat. We can get

and yelled, "You're all right, Pend

bandanna handkerchief. He was gripping his bridle with both hands and bouncing in his saddle like a b

he?" ask

hin' wrong with his bellows-or likely to be, though you-all wouldn't think it, con

n he went on seriously, "Dan, do you think there's any truth in the story that th

ave to go to stealin' horses on that account. Chickens are safer; and chili

n Betty back. I shall not make any complaint against him.

ll length ahead. "For God's sake, Curt, don't let Jack hear you say tha

he even gained a little. Now and again they could see him look bac

e beside Tillinghurst's again, "and she's fast. I don't

en to him. Hello, Pendleton!" he exclaimed as the stout man came up on the other side. "That noble steed of yours is

gasps and grunts as he bounced up and down,

oad. "Say, Pendy," he went on in a kindly tone, "it's a pretty stiff gait for you-all, and unless you're anxious t

an't lose me til

de, fell forward, and saved himself by grabbing the mane with both hands. The men shouted with merriment as Pendleton righted himself, turned a laughing face and shook his fis

and holding straight toward the south. The figure of Melgares, mounted on Brown Betty as on a pedestal, stood out boldly for a moment against the turquoise sky as he crossed the summit, then sank out of sig

e road intently, shouted joyously, the first words he had spoke

d shouted, "Get your gun ready,

riff, looked back and yelled, "Come a-runnin',

e top of a little hill and saw him cross the next low rise, Conr

y put in the Sheriff, who was riding on his lee

e fellow hurt. If he'll give up m

ed contemptuously

"that if you take him I shall make no compla

o complaint," Jack growle

nny reached their ears. Conrad called again; and the mare wheeled in her tracks. The Mexican jerked her back, lashed her furiously, and set her forward again at a gallop. Curtis called again an

ed his thigh. "Bully for Betty B!

could devise to rid herself of the masterful hand on her bridle. But the Mexican kept his seat and his grip upon the rein. With spur and quirt and compelling voice he finally forced her into submission. As she quieted down they were facing the pursuing posse and Melgares ha

, who came pounding and bouncing to the front, his horse still on the gallop. Gaines, just behi

it a cut across the flank with his quirt. It leaped forward smartly and Pendleton, taken unawares again, bobbed down on its neck and grabbed for its mane. Melgares saw the

neck, and heard Gaines cry out, "I'm hit!" as he fell forward across

ame trotting to Conrad's side, whinnying joyfully. Pendleton sat upright, calling out, "Say, fellows, is ther

ill die of cons

galloping after Melgares, who was running for his lif

e's a crack in the ground down there where

ing from a wound in the calf of his leg. He scrambled to his feet, and fired his second shot. The bullet n

ead." In quick succession he put two holes through the Mexican's sombrero. "Th

his head with his own pistol at his temple. Little Jack grabbed his arm, but Melgares fought desperately. The others came running to Wilder's assistance, and it was not u

m. Conrad, mounted on his own mare, and another were side by side with Jack Gaines laid across their laps. Two more went on at a gallop to bring out a doct