“Beat him by a neck!” said Shoop.  “Guess we better fan it, eh, Jack?”

“There’s no hurry,” said Corliss easily.  Nevertheless, he realized that Sundown’s presence in Usher was quite apt to be followed by a wire from the sheriff of Antelope which would complicate matters, to say the least.  He shook hands with the two townsmen and assured them that the hospitality of the Concho was theirs when they chose to honor it.  Then he turned to Bud Shoop.  “Get the fastest saddle-horse in town and ride out to the South road and wait for us.  I’m going to send Sundown over to Murphy’s.  Pat knows me pretty well.  From there he can take the Apache road to the Concho.  We can outfit him and get him settled at the water-hole ranch before any one finds out where he is.”

“But Jim’ll get him again,” said Shoop.

“I expect him to.  That’ll be all right.”

“Well, you got me.  Thought I knowed somethin’ about your style, but I don’t even know your name.”

“Let’s move on.  You go ahead and get the cayuse.  I want to talk to Sundown.”

Then Corliss explained his plan.  He told Sundown to keep the water-hole fenced and so keep the sheep-men from using it.  This would virtually control several thousand acres of range around the water-hole ranch.  He told Sundown that he expected him to homestead the ranch for himself—­do the necessary work to secure a title, and then at his option either continue as a rancher or sell the holding to the Concho.  “I’ll start you with some stock—­a few head, and a horse or two.  All you have to do is to ’tend to business and forget that I have ever spoken to you about homesteading the place.  You’ll have to play it alone after you get started.”

“Suits me, boss.  I ain’t what you’d call a farmer, but me and Chance can scratch around and act like we was.  But the smooth gent as pinched me—­ain’t he goin’ to come again?”

“Sure as you’re wearing spurs!  But you just take it easy and you’ll come out all right.  Loring put Jim Banks after you.  Jim is all right and he’s business.  Loring wants the water-hole ranch.  So do I. Now, if Loring tells the sheriff he saw you in Usher, and later at the water-hole, Jim will begin to think that Loring is keeping pretty close trail on you.  When Jim finds out you’ve filed on the water-hole,—­and he already knows that Loring wants it,—­he’ll begin to figure that Loring had you jailed to keep you out of his way.  And you can take it from me, Jim Banks is the squarest man in Apache County.  He’ll give you a chance to make good.  If we can keep you out of sight till he hears from over the line, I think you’ll be safe after that.  If we can’t, why, you still have your title to the water-hole ranch and that holds it against trespassers.”

“Well, you’re sure some shark on the long think!  Say, I been scared stiff so long I’m just commencin’ to feel me legs again.  The sun is shinin’ and the birds are sawin’ wood.  I get you, boss!  The old guy that owns the wool had me pinched.  Well, I ain’t got nothin’ ag’in’ him, but that don’t say I ain’t workin’ for you.  Say, if he comes botherin’ around me farm, do I shoot?”