“So’ve you, Jim.”

Once more that wolflike grin which had no mirth.

“So long, Lee.  I’ll be on the job.  Lay to that.”

He turned towards the door.  Hardy followed him.  A moment more, in a single word, and the job would be done.  Five thousand dollars for a single word!  It warmed the very heart of Lee Hardy.

Silent, as he moved away, seemed singularly thoughtful.  He hesitated a moment with bowed head at the door—­then whirled and shoved a six-gun under the nose of Hardy.  The latter leaped back with his arms thrust above his head, straining at his hands to get them higher.

“My God, Jim!”

“You’re a low-down, lyin’ hound!”

Hardy’s tongue clove to the roof of his mouth.

“Damn you, d’you hear me?”

“Yes!  For God’s sake, Jim, don’t shoot!”

“Your life ain’t worth a dime!”

“Give me one more chance an’ I’ll play square!”

A swift change came over the face of Silent, and then Hardy went hot with terror and anger.  The long rider had known nothing.  The gun play had been a mere bluff, but he had played into the hands of Silent, and now his life was truly worth nothing.

“You poor fool,” went on Silent, his voice purring with controlled rage.  “You damn blind fool!  D’you think you could double cross me an’ get by with it?”

“Give me a chance, Jim.  One more chance, one more chance!”

Even in his terror he remembered to keep his voice low lest those in the front room should hear.

“Out with it, if you love livin’!”

“I—­I can’t talk while you got that gun on me!”

Silent not only lowered his gun, but actually returned it to the holster.  Nothing could more clearly indicate his contempt, and Hardy, in spite of his fear, crimsoned with shame.

“It was Tex Calder,” he said at last.

Silent started a little and his eyes narrowed again.

“What of him?”

“He came here a while ago an’ tried to make a deal with me.”

“An’ made it!” said Silent ominously.

No gun pointed at him this time, but Hardy jerked his hands once more above his head and cowered against the wall.

“So help me God he didn’t, Jim.”

“Get your hands down.”

He lowered his hands slowly.

“I told him I didn’t know nothin’ about you.”

“What about that train?  What about that shipment?”

“It’s jest the way I told you, except that it’s on the eighteenth instead of the nineteenth.”

“I’m goin’ to believe you.  If you double cross me I’ll have your hide.  Maybe they’ll get me, but there’ll be enough of my boys left to get you.  You can lay to that.  How much did they offer you, Lee?  How much am I worth to the little old U.S.A.?”

“I—­I—­it wasn’t the money.  I was afraid to stick with my game any longer.”

The long rider had already turned towards the door, making no effort to keep his face to the agent.  The latter, flushing again, moved his hand towards his hip, but stopped the movement.  The last threat of Silent carried a deep conviction with it.  He knew that the faith of lone riders to each other was an inviolable bond.  Accordingly he followed at the heels of the other man into the outside room.