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Both turned away They untied the two horses and led them up to where the saddles lay Swiftly the blankets went on, swiftly the saddles swung up, swiftly the cinches snapped Anson lay gazing up at Wilson, corim and silent, somehow detached coldly frorab some bread an' I'll pack a bunk of ht, within ten feet of where the leader lay

"Fellars--you ain't--slopin'?" he whispered, in husky aood an' this hole ain't healthy," replied Moze

Shady Jones swung hi

"Moze, I'll tote the grub an' you lead out of hyar, till we git past the wust timber," he said

"Aw, Moze--you wouldn't leave--Jim hyar--alone," implored Anson

"Jih of this hole"

"But, Moze--it ain't square--" panted Anson "Jim wouldn't--leave me I'd stick--by you I'll oin' to cash," sardonically returned Moze

A current leaped all through Anson's stretched frareat and the terrible rigedly and faithfully struggled against the tide of fatal issues Moze and Shady Jones, deep locked in their self-centered motives, had not realized the inevitable trend of their dark lives

Anson, prostrate as he was, swiftly drew his gun and shot Moze Without sound or e of Shady's horse caused Anson's second shot to ht no apparent result but Shady's cursing resort to his oeapon He tried to airavel over Anson Then Wilson's long ared Shady collapsed in the saddle, and the frightened horse, throwing hi hoofs, crashings of brush, quickly ceased

"Jiit him?" whispered Anson

"Shore did, Snake," was the slow, halting response Jim Wilsonhis gun, he folded a blanket and put it under Anson's head

"Jiittin' chilly," replied Wilson, and, taking a second blanket, he laid that over Anson's limbs "Snake, I'm feared Shady hit you once"