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"I sure will." Hitherto Struve had been absorbed in his own

turbid emotions, but he came back from them now with a new-born

suspicion in his eyes. "Where do you come in, Mr. Briscoe? Why

are you so plumb anxious I should load him up with lead? If it's

a showdown, I'd some like to see your cards too."

Jed shrugged. "My reasons ain't urgent like yours. I don't favor

spies poking their noses in here. That's all there's to it."

Jed had worked out a plot as he rode through the night from the

Dillon ranch--one so safe and certain that it pointed to sure

success. Jed was no coward, but he had a spider-like cunning that

wove others as dupes into the web of his plans.