Once he had heard Emerson Crawford give a piece of advice to a hotheaded and unwise puncher.  “Never call for a gun-play on a bluff, son.  There’s no easier way to commit suicide than to pull a six-shooter you ain’t willin’ to use.”  Dug Doble was what Byington called “bull-haided.”  He had forced a situation which could not be met without a showdown.  This meant that the young range-rider would either have to take a thrashing or draw his forty-five and use it.  Neither of these alternatives seemed worth while in view of the small stakes at issue.  Because he was not ready to kill or be killed, Dave was flying for the hills.

The fugitive had to use his quirt to get there in time.  The steepness of the road made heavy going.  As he neared the summit the grade grew worse.  The bronco labored heavily in its stride as its feet reached for the road ahead.

But here Dave had the advantage.  Doble was a much heavier man than he, and his mount took the shoulder of the ridge slower.  By the time the foreman showed in silhouette against the skyline at the entrance to the pass the younger man had disappeared.

The D Bar Lazy R foreman found out at once what had become of him.  A crisp voice gave clear directions.

“That’ll be far enough.  Stop right where you’re at or you’ll notice trouble pop.  And don’t reach for yore gun unless you want to hear the band begin to play a funeral piece.”

The words came, it seemed to Doble, out of the air.  He looked up.  Two great boulders lay edge to edge beside the path.  Through a narrow rift the blue nose of a forty-five protruded.  Back of it glittered a pair of steady, steely eyes.

The foreman did not at all like the look of things.  Sanders was a good shot.  From where he lay, almost entirely protected, all he had to do was to pick his opponent off at his leisure.  If his hand were forced he would do it.  And the law would let him go scot free, since Doble was a fighting man and had been seen to start in pursuit of the boy.

“Come outa there and shell out that eighteen dollars,” demanded Doble.

“Nothin’ doin’, Dug.”

“Don’t run on the rope with me, young fellow.  You’ll sure be huntin’ trouble.”

“What’s the use o’ beefin’?  I’ve got the deadwood on you.  Better hit the dust back to town and explain to the boys how yore bronc went lame,” advised Dave.

“Come down and I’ll wallop the tar outa you.”

“Much obliged.  I’m right comfortable here.”

“I’ve a mind to come up and dig you out.”

“Please yoreself, Dug.  We’ll find out then which one of us goes to hell.”

The foreman cursed, fluently, expertly, passionately.  Not in a long time had he had the turn called on him so adroitly.  He promised Dave sudden death in various forms whenever he could lay hands upon him.

“You’re sure doin’ yoreself proud, Dug,” the young man told him evenly.  “I’ll write the boys how you spilled language so thorough.”