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"I am a stranger to this country. I was born in Tennessee,

brought up in the Panhandle. I'm an irrigation engineer by

profession. This is my vacation. I'm headed now for the Mal Pais

mines. Friends of mine are interested in a property there with me

and I have been sent to look the ground over and make a report. I

never heard of Kinney till to-day. You've got the wrong man,

gentlemen."

"We'll risk it," laughed one brutally. "Bring that riata, Tom."

Neill did not struggle or cry out frantically. He stood

motionless while they adjusted the rope round his bronzed throat.

They had judged him for a villain; they should at least know him

a man. So he stood there straight and lithe, wide-shouldered and

lean-flanked, a man in a thousand. Not a twitch of the

well-packed muscles, not a quiver of the eyelash nor a swelling

of the throat betrayed any fear. His cool eyes were quiet and

steady.

"If you want to leave any message for anybody I'll see it's

delivered," promised Duffield.