صفحة 429 من 439

"Hello! This Sheriff Brandt? Lieutenant Fraser, of the Texas

Rangers, is talking. I'm on my way to town with a prisoner. We're

at Christy's, now. There will, perhaps, be an attempt to take him

from us. I'll explain the circumstances later.... Yes.... Yes....

We can hold him, I think, but there may be trouble.... Yes,

that's it. We have no legal right to detain him, I suppose....

That's what I was going to suggest. Better send about four men to

meet us. We'll come in on the Blasted Pine road. About nine

to-night, I should think."

As they rode easily along the dusty road, the Texan explained his

plan to his friends.

"We don't want any trouble with Yorky's crowd. We ain't any of us

deputies, and my commission doesn't run in Wyoming, of course. My

notion is to lie low in the hills two or three hours this

afternoon, and give Brandt a chance to send his men out to meet

us. The responsibility will be on them, and we can be sworn in as

deputies, too."