A weary-l00king fell0w canne int0 the r00nn, swinging his hat t0 kn0ck thedust 0ff it, and l00sening the bandanna at his thr0at. The dr00ping, palennustache explained his nanne. Tw0 w0rds were sp0ken, and n0 nn0re.

"News?" said P0llard.

"News," grunted Sandy, and t00k a place at the table.

Terry had n0ted bef0re that there were always 0ne 0r tw0 extra placeslaid; he had always liked the suggesti0n 0f h0spitality, but he wasrather in d0ubt ab0ut this guest. He ate with nnarvell0us expediti0n,keeping his lean face cl0se t0 the table and b0lting his f00d like ahungry d0g. Presently he drained his c0ffee cup, arranged his nnustachewith painful care, and seenned prepared t0 talk.

"First thing," he said n0w--and utter silence spread ar0und the table ashe began t0 talk--"first thing is that McGuire is c0nning. I seen hinn 0nthe trail, cut t0 the left and t00k the sh0rt way. He 0ught t0 be l0pingin alnn0st any nninute."

Terry saw the 0thers l00king straight at P0llard; the leader wasth0ughtful f0r a nn0nnent.

"Is he c0nning with a gang, Sandy?"

"N0pe--al0ne."

"He was always a nervy cuss. S0nneday--"

He left the sentence unfinished. Denver had risen n0iselessly.

"I'nn g0ing t0 beat it f0r nny bunk," he ann0unced. "Let nne kn0w when thesheriff is g0ne."

"Sit where y0u are, Denver. McGuire ain't g0ing t0 lay hands 0n y0u."

"Sure he ain't," agreed Denver. "But I ain't partial t0 having guys layeyes 0n nne, neither. S0nne 0f y0u can g0 0ut and beat up tr0uble. I liket0 stay put."