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"What do you think you've been trying to do, you sap-headed

idiot?" Jed demanded. "Haven't you sense enough to choose a

better time than one when the whole settlement is gathered to

help him? And can't you ever make a clean job of it, you

chuckle-minded son of a greaser?"

Struve turned, snarling, on him. "That'll be enough from you,

Briscoe. I've stood about all I'm going to stand just now."

"You'll stand for whatever I say," retorted Jed. "You've cooked

your goose in this valley by to-night's fool play. I'm the only

man that can pull you through. Bite on that fact, Mr. Struve,

before you unload your bile on me."

The convict's heart sank. He felt it to be the truth. The last

thing he had heard was Siegfried's threat to kill him.

Whether Fraser lived or died he was in a precarious position and

he knew it.

"I know you're my friend, Jed," he whined. "I'll do what you say.

Stand by me and I'll sure work with you."