“Wright, get away from your gun!” yelled the cowboy Brick.

But Wright was crazed by fury.  He tugged at his hip, his face corded with purple welts, malignant, murderous, while he got to his feet.

I was about to leap through the door when Steele shot.  Wright’s gun went ringing to the floor.

Like a beast in pain Wright screamed.  Frantically he waved a limp arm, flinging blood over the white table-cloths.  Steele had crippled him.

“Here, you cowboy,” ordered Steele; “take him out, quick!”

Brick saw the need of expediency, if Wright did not realize it, and he pulled the raving man out of the place.  He hurried Wright down the street, leaving the horses behind.

Steele calmly sheathed his gun.

“Well, I guess that opens the ball,” he said as I came out.

Hoden seemed fascinated by the spots of blood on the table-cloths.  It was horrible to see him rubbing his hands there like a ghoul!

“I tell you what, fellows,” said Steele, “we’ve just had a few pleasant moments with the man who has made it healthy to keep close-mouthed in Linrock.”

Hoden lifted his shaking hands.

“What’d you wing him for?” he wailed.  “He was drawin’ on you.  Shootin’ arms off men like him won’t do out here.”

I was inclined to agree with Hoden.

“That bull-headed fool will roar and butt himself with all his gang right into our hands.  He’s just the man I’ve needed to meet.  Besides, shooting him would have been murder for me!”

“Murder!” exclaimed Hoden.

“He was a fool, and slow at that.  Under such circumstances could I kill him when I didn’t have to?”

“Sure it’d been the trick.” declared Jim positively.  “I’m not allowin’ for whether he’s really a rustler or not.  It just won’t do, because these fellers out here ain’t goin’ to be afraid of you.”

“See here, Hoden.  If a man’s going to be afraid of me at all, that trick will make him more afraid of me.  I know it.  It works out.  When Wright cools down he’ll remember, he’ll begin to think, he’ll realize that I could more easily have killed him than risk a snapshot at his arm.  I’ll bet you he goes pale to the gills next time he even sees me.”

“That may be true, Steele.  But if Wright’s the man you think he is he’ll begin that secret underground bizness.  It’s been tolerable healthy these last six months.  You can gamble on this.  If thet secret work does commence you’ll have more reason to suspect Wright.  I won’t feel very safe from now on.

“I heard you call him rustler.  He knows thet.  Why, Wright won’t sleep at night now.  He an’ Sampson have always been after me.”

“Hoden, what are your eyes for?” demanded Steele.  “Watch out.  And now here.  See your friend Morton.  Tell him this game grows hot.  Together you approach four or five men you know well and can absolutely trust.

“Hello, there’s somebody coming.  You meet Russ and me to-night, out in the open a quarter of a mile, straight from the end of this street.  You’ll find a pile of stones.  Meet us there to-night at ten o’clock.”