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"I'll not trouble you with any."

"Just as you like."

"He didn't give poor Dave any time for messages," cried Tom Long

bitterly.

"That's right," assented another with a curse.

It was plain to the victim they were spurring their nerves to

hardihood.

"Who's that?" cried one of the men, pointing to a rider galloping

toward them.

The newcomer approached rapidly, covered by their weapons, and

flung himself from his pony as he dragged it to a halt beside the

group.

"Steve Fraser," cried Duffield in surprise, and added, "He's an

officer in the rangers."

"Right, gentlemen. Come to claim my prisoner," said the ranger

promptly.

"Y'u can't have him, Steve. We took him and he's got to hang."

The lieutenant of rangers shook his dark curly head.

"Won't do, Duffield. Won't do at all," he said decisively. "You'd

ought to know law's on top in Texas these days."