"  'But  me  no  buts,'"  said  the  other.  "This  was  a  brace  game
from  the  start.  You  need  have  no  scruples.  Thank  you,  Mr.
Barkeep."

"Have  you  a  gun,  Foley? "said  Shorty.  Foley  shook  his
head.  "  Thought  not.  Give  me  one  of  those,  and  one  to  Sandy.
Let's  git.  There  are  several  horses  tied  to  the  rack.  Back  out,
Sandy."


728  OUT    WEST

"O.K.,"  returned  Sandy.  "Come  along  with  us,  please,
Mr.  North."  The  three  backed  toward  the  door,  still  covering:
the  crowd.  "Good  evening,  gentlemen,"  came  in  Sandy's
mocking  tones  from  the  door.  "Allow  me  to  suggest  that  it
might  prove  unpleasant,  perhaps  disastrous,  to  Mr.  North  if
you  followed  us.     Good  bye  !  "

And  he  backed  out  into  the  moonlit  street ;  North,  in  inarticu-
late rage,  following  with  his  hands  up.
Foley  and  his  companion  had  loosed  all  the  horses  but  three.
Sandy  mounted.  "  Go  on,  you  fellows — I  want  a  moment's  pri-
vate conversation  with  Mr.  North.  Come  up  to  the  corner,
please,  Mr.  North."

When  they  came  to  the  corner  Sandy  stopped.
"  Do  you  remember  Minnie  Bannard  ?  "

North  turned  a  convulsed  face  up  to  him.  "Ah— I  see  you  do!
Take  this  for  her  I "  And  he  struck  North  a  violent  blow  over
the  head  with  his  six-shooter  and  started  after  his  companions
at  full  speed.
He  had  not  gone  far  when  three  or  four  of  the  Red  Light
crowd  came  to  the  corner  and  opened  fire.  Sandy  rounded  an-
other corner,  and  overtook  the  others.
