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The fellow began to whine thanks, but the man above would have

none of them, "I'm giving you this chance for your sister's sake.

You won't make anything of it. You're born for meanness and

deviltry. I know your kind from El Paso to Dawson. But she's game

and she's white clear through, even if she is your sister and a

plumb little fool. Can you walk to the road?" he ended abruptly.

"I think so. It's in my ankle. Some hell-hound gave it me while

we were getting over the wall," the fellow growled.

"Don't blame him. His intentions were good. He meant to blow out

your brains."

The convict cursed vilely, but in the midst of his impotent rage

the other stopped and dragged him to his feet.

"That's enough. You padlock that ugly mouth and light a shuck."

The girl came forward and the man leaned heavily on her as he

limped to the road. The Texan followed with the buckskin she had

been riding and tied it to the back of the road-wagon.