Steelman found a bottle of whiskey and a glass, then foraged for food in the kitchen.  He returned with the shank of a ham and a loaf of bread.  His fear was ill-disguised.  The presence of the outlaw, if discovered, would bring him trouble; and Doble was so unruly he might out of sheer ennui or bravado let it be known he was there.

“I’ll get you the money first thing in the mornin’,” promised Steelman.

Doble poured himself a large drink and took it at a swallow.  “I would, Brad.”

“No use you puttin’ yoreself in unnecessary danger.”

“Or you.  Don’t hand me my hat, Brad.  I’ll go when I’m ready.”

Doble drank steadily throughout the night.  He was the kind of drinker that can take an incredible amount of liquor without becoming helpless.  He remained steady on his feet, growing uglier and more reckless every hour.

Tied to Doble because he dared not break away from him, Steelman’s busy brain began to plot a way to take advantage of this man’s weakness for liquor.  He sat across the table from him and adroitly stirred up his hatred of Crawford and Sanders.  He raked up every grudge his guest had against the two men, calling to his mind how they had beaten him at every turn.

“O’ course I know, Dug, you’re a better man than Sanders or Crawford either, but Malapi don’t know it—­yet.  Down at the Gusher I hear they laugh about that trick he played on you blowin’ up the dam.  Luck, I call it, but—­”

“Laugh, do they?” growled the big man savagely.  “I’d like to hear some o’ that laughin’.”

“Say this Sanders is a wonder; that nobody’s got a chance against him.  That’s the talk goin’ round.  I said any day in the week you had him beat a mile, and they gave me the laugh.”

“I’ll show ’em!” cried the enraged bully with a furious oath.

“I’ll bet you do.  No man livin’ can make a fool outa Dug Doble, rustle the evidence to send him to the pen, snap his fingers at him, and on top o’ that steal his girl.  That’s what I told—­”

Doble leaned across the table and caught in his great fist the wrist of Steelman.  His bloodshot eyes glared into those of the man opposite.  “What girl?” he demanded hoarsely.

Steelman looked blandly innocent.  “Didn’t you know, Dug?  Maybe I ought n’t to ‘a’ mentioned it.”

Fingers like ropes of steel tightened on the wrist, Brad screamed.

“Don’t do that, Dug!  You’re killin’ me!  Ouch!  Em Crawford’s girl.”

“What about her and Sanders?”

“Why, he’s courtin’ her—­treatin’ her to ice-cream, goin’ walkin’ with her.  Didn’t you know?”

“When did he begin?” Doble slammed a hamlike fist on the table.  “Spit it out, or I’ll tear yore arm off.”

Steelman told all he knew and a good deal more.  He invented details calculated to infuriate his confederate, to inflame his jealousy.  The big man sat with jaw clamped, the muscles knotted like ropes on his leathery face.  He was a volcano of outraged vanity and furious hate, seething with fires ready to erupt.