An instant resentment surged up in Billie’s heart.  He knew now why this fellow had come to see him secretly.  It was his duty to get all the information he could about Clanton.  He had to deal with this man who wanted to sell his comrade, but he did not relish the business.

“You can read, can’t you, Sanders?” he asked ungraciously.

“Where’s the money?” snarled his guest.

“It’s in the bank.”

“Sure?”

From his pocket-book Billie took a bank deposit slip.  He put it on the table where the other man could look it over.

“Would a man have to wait for the reward until Clanton was convicted?” the traitor asked roughly.

“A thousand would be paid as soon as the arrest was made, the rest when he was convicted,” said Prince coldly.

“Will you put that in writin’, Mr. Sheriff?”

The chill eyes of the officer drilled into those of the rustler.  He drew a pad toward him and wrote a few lines, then shoved the tablet of paper toward Sanders.  The latter tore off the sheet and put it in his pocket.

Sanders spoke again, abruptly.  “Understand one thing, Prince.  I don’t have to take part in the arrest.  I only tell you where to find him.”

“And take me to the spot,” added the sheriff, “I’ll do the arrestin’.”

“Whyfor must I take you there if I tell you where to go?”

“You want a good deal for your white alley, Sanders,” returned the other contemptuously.  “I’m to take all the chances an’ you are to drag down the reward.  That listens good.  Nothin’ to it.  You’ll ride right beside me; then if anything goes wrong, you’ll be where I can ask you questions.”

“Do you think I’m double-crossin’ you?  Is that it?” flushed the ex-foreman of the Lazy S M.

“I don’t know.  It might be Clanton you’re double-crossin’, or it might be me,” said the sheriff with cynical insolence.  “But if I’m the bird you’ve made a poor choice.  In case we’re ambushed, you’ll be in nice, easy reach of my gun.”

“Do I look like a fool?” snapped Sanders.  “I’m out for the dough.  I’m takin’ you to Clanton because I need the money.”

“Mebbeso.  You won’t need it long if you throw me down.”  Then abruptly, the sheriff dropped into the manner of dry business.  “Get down to tacks, man.  Where is Clanton’s hang-out?”

Buck sat down and drew a sketch roughly on the tablet.  “Cross the river at Blazer’s Ford, cut over the hills to Ojo Caliente, an’ swing to the east.  He’s about four miles from Round Top in an old dugout.  Maybe you’ve heard of Saguaro Canon.  Well, he’s holed up in a little gulch runnin’ into it.”

By daybreak next morning the sheriff’s posse was in the saddle.  In addition to Sanders, who rode beside Billie unarmed, Goodheart and two special deputies made up the party.

The sun was riding high when they reached Ojo Caliente.  The party bore eastward, following a maze of washes, arroyos, and gorges.  It was well into the afternoon when the informer ventured a suggestion.