Brannon  then  disarmed  the  other  men,  using
the  method  he  had  employed  with  Latson.  He
issued  his  orders  drawlingly,  with  a  hint  of  grim
humor  in  his  voice,  but  the  Star  men  knew  earnest
ness  when  they  saw  it,  and  all  recognized  the  need
for  repression  and  carefulness.
Brannon's  present  aggressiveness  was  more  con
vincing  than  his  previous  apparent  peacefulness.
That  he  was  prepared  to  fight  in  order  to  estab
lish  his  innocence  could  not  be  doubted.  Holding
his  present  advantage  he  might  have  contrived  to
make  prisoners  of  the  men  while  he  rode  to  safety,
taking  their  horses  with  him.
Cole  Meeder,  having  received  no  invitation  to
rise,  was  still  flat  on  his  back  on  the  veranda
floor,  rolling  his  head  from  side  to  side  in
order  to  watch  the  movements  of  Brannon  and
the  others.  He  grinned  with  huge  embarrassment
when  he  realized  that  Brannon  did  not  mean  to  es
cape.
258  WEST!

"Brannon,"  he  said,  "you  ain't  intendin'  to  drag
it?"

"Meeder,"  said  Brannon,  "you  never  had  an  idea
that  I  shot  Tim  Callahan  in  the  back."

"That  idea  has  been  plumb  knocked  out  of  me,
Brannon — if  I  ever  had  it.  If  you  'd  let  me  set  up,
so  's  I  could  work  my  jaws  better,  I  'd  like  to  say
a  word  to  the  boys."

He  was  sitting  up  when  Latson  reappeared.  Lat-
son  was  carrying  a  saddle.  He  dropped  it  to  the  ve
randa  floor,  and  without  waiting  to  consult  Bran-
non's  wishes  the  men,  Meeder  included,  crowded
around  it.
Brannon  stepped  back  a  little,  watching;  for
he  knew  their  childlike  curiosity  would  quickly
change  to  suspicion.
