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"Pedro, you're one of Beasley's old hands," said Las Vegas, accusingly "An'--you was one of thereasers thet--"

Here the cowboy choked and bit over his words as if they were a uilt and cowardice He began to jabber

"Shet up!" hissed Las Vegas, with a savage and significant jerk of his arm, as if about to strike But that action was read for its truePell-mell the crowd split to rush each way and leave an open space behind the three

Las Vegas waited But Mulvey seeh his fear His fingers twitched as if the tendons running up into his ar enough for Mulvey to be tried and found wanting--and Las Vegas, with laugh and sneer, turned his back upon the pair and stepped to the bar His call for a bottle as poured out a drink, while his gaze was intent on the scarred oldhis back upon men he had just dared to drahat kind of a school Las Vegas had been trained in If those onists of his class he would never have scorned theuns, Las Vegas swiftly wheeled and shot twice Mulvey's gun went off as he fell, and the Mexican doubled up in a heap on the floor Then Las Vegas reached around with his left hand for the drink he had poured out

At this juncture Dale burst into the saloon, suddenly to check his impetus, to swerve aside toward the bar and halt The door had not ceased swinging when again it was propelled inward, this time to admit Helen Rayner, white and wide-eyed

In another as had spoken his deadly toast to Beasley's gang and had fiercely flung the glass at the writhing Mexican on the floor Also Dale had gravitated toward the reeling Helen to catch her when she fainted

Las Vegas began to curse, and, striding to Dale, he pushed him out of the saloon

"--! What 're you doin' heah?" he yelled, stridently "Hevn't you got thet girl to think of? Then do it, you big Indian! Lettin' her run after you heah--riskin' herself thet way! You take care of her an' Bo an' leave this deal to me!"

The cowboy, furious as he was at Dale, yet had keen, swift eyes for the horses near at hand, and the irl into his ar without a word, stalked away to disappear in the darkness Las Vegas, holding his gun low, returned to the bar-rooht The tension had relaxed Turner no longer stood with hands up