“‘Which I won’t say that this exodus is necessary,’ observes Enright, when ten miles out we slows up to a road gait to breathe our ponies, ’but I thinks on the whole it’s safer.  Besides, I oughter go over to Tucson anyway on business.’

“The rest of us don’t make no remarks nor excooses; but every gent is feelin’ like a great personal peril has blown by.

“The next day, we rounds up Doc Peets, an’ he encourages us so that we concloods to return an’ make a size-up of results.

“‘I shore hopes we finds Dave safe.’ says Dan Boggs.

“‘It’s even money,’ says Jack Moore, ’that Dave pulls through.  Dave’s a mighty wary sport when worst comes to worst; an’ as game as redhead ants.’

“‘That’s all right about Dave bein’ game,’ retorts Dan, ’but this yere’s a time when Dave ain’t got no show.  I says ag’in, I trust he retains decision of character sufficient to go hide out doorin’ the storm.  It ain’t no credit to us that we forgets to bring him along.’

“‘No; thar wasn’t no harm done,’ says Faro Nell, who reports progress to us after we rounds up in the Red Light followin’ our return.  Nell’s a brave girl an’ stands a pat hand when the rest of us vamosed that time.  ’Thar ain’t no real trouble.  Missis Rucker merely sets fire to Jennie about the way she maltreats Dave; an’ she says Jennie’s drivin’ him locoed, an’ no wonder.  Also, she lets on she don’t see whatever Dave marries Jennie for anyhow!

“‘At that, Jennie comes back an’ reminds Missis Rucker how she herse’f done treats Mister Rucker that turrible he goes cavortin’ off an’ seeks safety among the Apaches.  An’ so they keeps on slingin’ it back’ards an’ for’ards for mebby two hours, an’ me ha’ntin’ about to chunk in a word.  Then, final, they cries an’ makes up; an’ then they both concedes that one way an’ another they’re the best two people each other ever sees.  At this juncture,’ concloods Nell, ‘I declar’s myse’f in on the play; an’ we-all three sets down an’ admires Enright Peets an’ visits an’ has a splendid afternoon.’

“‘An’ wherever doorin’ this emute is Dave?’ asks Enright.

“‘Oh, Dave?’ says Nell.  ‘Why he’s lurkin’ about outside som’ers in a furtive, surreptitious way; but he don’t molest us none.  Which, now I remembers, Dave don’t even come near us none at all.’

“‘I should say not!’ says Texas Thompson, plenty emphatic.  ’Dave ain’t quite that witless.’

“‘Now, gents,’ remarks Doc Peets, when Nell is done, an’ his tones is confident like he’s certain of his foothold, ’since things has gone thus far I’ll sa’nter into the midst of these domestic difficulties an’ adjust ‘em some.  I’ve thought up a s’lootion; an’ it’s apples to ashes that inside of twenty-four hours I has Jennie pettin’ an’ cossetin’ Dave to beat four of a kind.  Leave this yere matter to me entire.’

“We-all can’t see jest how Peets is goin’ to work these mir’cles; still, sech is our faith, we believes.  We decides among ourse’fs, however, that if Peets does turn this pacific trick it’ll ondoubted be the crownin’ glory of his c’reer.