The Killer

t bottle of soothing syrup; I went to Sol Levi and easily procured delivery of the other five. Then I strolled peacefully to supper over at McCloud's hotel. Pathological k

eep across the bed. I did not disturb him, except that I robbed him of his pistol. All looked safe for awhile; but just to be certain I took Room 6, across the narrow hall, and left both

his can be done by most outdoor men. I have listened subconsciously to horsebells for so many nights, for example, that even on stormy nights the cessation of that faint twinkle will awaken me, while the crash of the elements or even the fall of a tree would not in th

ge of the baggageman. I had no great difficulty in getting it from my friend, the station agent. Had he not seen me herding the locoed stranger? I secreted the black bag with the five full bo

ng curtly to McCloud and me, and into the dining room where he drank several cups of coffee. Thence he

ard. He's going to head in this direction; and he'll probably aim to climb my hump. Such being the case, and t

hink washee-man. Been intending to for a we

and tension; and its tail was the light alkali dust of Arizona mingled with the station

ying around loose so I took care of it for you. As for your bag;

nyway. The station agent, too mad to spit, departed before

for me, too," said Brower; but his irony

choed. "Have yo

excitement had passed, leaving him weak and ne

, and I've got your dope," I repeated, "in a safe place." I added, "and you'll not

blackmail," he came back with so

a cent; but I

t," s

this dope--for the best results

e for a moment

yuh?" he repea

nt to

out once a day. Three g

to me. I'm custodian of this dope, and you'll get

This ain't the only hamlet

e can't work together. That's where you've g

position?" he ask

t you're up against. I don't know how much you know about Old M

of the old man's methods, from t

th it?" asked Brower

be water-tight, and old Hooper may kill the fatted four-year-old, for all I know. But if I were you, I wo

ctions for those contracts to be recorded,

s well and the goose hangs high, that the old man is a prince and has come through, and that in accordance with the nice, friendly agreement you have reached he

hat's al

eantime, you will be getting out of it j

ch letter. Not 'till I fe

tricks. They drive pitch-pine splinters into your legs and set fire to them, for one thing. Or make small cuts in you with a knife, and load them up with powder squibs in oiled paper--

usting the ridiculous derb

what that newspaper ad was meant for. And when the respectable lawyer wrote

ockey sh

pursued. "You got me side-tracked. This daughter of the d

e, I b

did sh

hree mon

her rel

at I kn

ed. "What does

od-looking all right. She's got eyes wide apart a

rom her since sh

oined Brower, impatientl

she's not in Europe at all. I beli

the symptoms I was to recognize so well. "Why the hell don't y

ifty of the best killers in the southwest have lists of the men Old Man Hooper thinks might lay him out. And every man on that list

roaned the j

nd it's near the border. I expect he's got me marked. If I have to I'll kill him just like I would a rattlesnake; but that wouldn't do me a whole lot o

ry much subdued. "What's your i

ll the truth I had no

go out to Hooper's

he rejoine

et along out of town," I suggested. "T

t's

l go out a

on down to the livery corral. I knew the keeper pretty well, of course, so I borro

reminded him. "This is a

onfided my companion's profession--I had to account for such a figure

r with that chest

east. Only it ain't min

from Ho

ea

f," I said to Brower, "but when you first get on him this b

aballo_," corr

queried Brower

es, scratches, gouges, an

ied Brower, grouchily. "

d very arbitrary. His opium-irritated nerves were beginning to react. I realized that he was not far short of explosive obstinacy. So I conceded the point; although, as every rider knows, a cowboy's saddle an

horse stood dejectedly. When Brower had made fast the latigo, the horse--as such dispirited animal

you your friend did borrow your saddle! If you'd clumb Tiger with that outfit

aps on the off side had given way. I found that they had been cut nearly through w