“Go on,” said the agent, “and tell the rest of the story.  It starts well.”

“Doesn’t it?” agreed Calder, “and the way it concludes is with you reaching over and shaking hands with me and saying ’yes’!”

He leaned forward.  The twinkle was gone from his eyes and he extended his hand to Hardy.  The latter reached out with an impulsive gesture, wrung the proffered hand, and then slipping back into his chair broke into hysterical laughter.

“The real laugh,” said Calder, watching his man narrowly, “will be on the long riders.”

“Tex,” said the agent.  “I guess you have the dope.  I won’t say anything except that I’m glad as hell to be out of the rotten business at last.  Once started I couldn’t stop.  I did one ‘favour’ for these devils, and after that they had me in their power.  I haven’t slept for months as I’m going to sleep tonight!”

He wiped his face with an agitated hand.

“A week ago,” he went on, “I knew you were detailed on this work.  I’ve been sweating ever since.  Now that you’ve come—­why, I’m glad of it!”

A faint sneer touched Calder’s mouth and was gone.

“You’re a wise man,” he said.  “Have you seen much of Jim Silent lately?”

Hardy hesitated.  The role of informer was new.

“Not directly.”

Calder nodded.

“Now put me right if I go off the track.  The way I understand it, Jim Silent has about twenty gun fighters and long riders working in gangs under him and combining for big jobs.”

“That’s about it.”

“The inside circle consists of Silent; Lee Haines, a man who went wrong because the law did him wrong; Hal Purvis, a cunning devil; and Bill Kilduff, a born fighter who loves blood for its own sake.”

“Right.”

“Here’s something more.  For Jim Silent, dead or alive, the government will pay ten thousand dollars.  For each of the other three it pays five thousand.  The notices aren’t out yet, but they will be in a few days.  Hardy, if you help me bag these men, you’ll get fifty per cent of the profits.  Are you on?”

The hesitancy of Hardy changed to downright enthusiasm.

“Easy money, Tex.  I’m your man, hand and glove.”

“Don’t get optimistic.  This game isn’t played yet, and unless I make the biggest mistake of my life we’ll be guessing again before we land Silent.  I’ve trailed some fast gunmen in my day, and I have an idea that Silent will be the hardest of the lot; but if you play your end of the game we may land him.  I have a tip that he’s lying out in the country near Elkhead.  I’m riding out alone to get track of him.  As I go out I’ll tell my men that you’re O.K. for this business.”

He hesitated a moment with his hand on the door knob.

“Just one thing more, Hardy.  I heard a queer tale this morning about a fight in a saloon run by a man named Morgan.  Do you know anything about it?”