“And brand that deep,” growled Lawlor, looking about with a frown.

He had already stepped into his part; the others laughed loudly.

“Steady there!” called Drew.  “Lawlor starts as boss right now.  Cut out the laughing.  I’ll tell the rest of you what you’re to do later on.  In the meantime just step out and I’ll have a talk with Lawlor on his part.  We haven’t much time to get ready.  But remember—­if one of you grins when Lawlor gives an order—­I’m done with that man—­that’s all.”

They filed out of the room, looking serious, and Drew concentrated on Lawlor.  “This sounds like a joke,” he began, “but there’s something serious about it.  If you carry it through safely, there’s a hundred in it for you.  If you fall down, why, you fall out of an easy place on this ranch.”

The big cattleman wiped a growing perspiration from his forehead and considered his boss with plaintive eyes.

“This tenderfoot who’s coming is green to the range, but he’s a hard man; a fine horseman, a sure shot, and a natural fighter.  More than that, he’s coming here looking for trouble; and he’ll expect to get the trouble from you.”

Lawlor brushed his moustache anxiously.

“Let someone else take the job—­that’s all.  A hundred ain’t to be picked up every week, but I’ll do without it.  In my day I’ve done my share of brawlin’ around, but I’m too stiff in the joints to make a fast draw and getaway now.  Let Nash take this job.  He’s gun-fighter enough to handle this bad-man for you.”

“No,” said Drew, “not even Nash can handle this one.”

“Then”—­with a mighty and explosive emphasis—­“there ain’t no possible use of me lingering around the job.  S’-long.”

“Wait.  This young chap isn’t going to murder you.  I’ll tell you this much.  The man he wants is I; but he knows my face, not my name.  He’s been on the trail of that face for some time, and now he’s tracking it to the right house; but when he sees you and hears you called Drew, he’ll be thrown off again.”

The other nodded gloomily.

“I’m by way of a lightning rod.  This tenderfoot with the hard hand, he strikes and I sort of conduct the shock away from anything that’ll burn, eh?”

Drew overlooked the comment.

“There are certain things about me you will have to know.”  And he explained carefully the story which Nash had told to Bard.

“This Bard,” asked the cautious Lawlor, “is he any relation of old John Bard?”

“Even if he were, it wouldn’t make your position dangerous.  The man he wants is I. He knows my face—­not my name.  Until he sees me he’ll be perfectly reasonable, unless he’s crossed.  You must seem frank and above board.  If you tell more lies than are necessary he may get suspicious, and if he grows suspicious the game is up and will have to be finished with a gun play.  Remember that.  He’ll want to know about Nash.  Tell him that Nash is a bad one and that you’ve fixed him; he mustn’t expect to find Nash here.”