Page:J Allan Dunn--The Girl of Ghost Mountain.djvu/228

210 your hands Jim, as it is in mine. But perhaps you haven't thought of it just in that light. I wish you would. And there's something else on foot, that you'll be in on, that makes me want to keep attention from the Circle S outfit for a bit. It'll pay you to hold off, Jim, and it'll be a favor to me. How about it?"

Jim was fiddling with the rim of his sombrero. He put it on his head and looked Sheridan squarely in the eyes.

"I'd like my saddle," he said. "I don't wish to be kep' away from Pioche because that Greaser is pasearin' round. But if I meet him, which ain't over likely, I won't start nothin'. Is that good enough? If he draws I'll try to beat him to it. Otherwise I do nothin', until either you or the lady gives me the word. An' then," he added with boyish bravado, tapping his gun, 'watch my smoke.

Sheridan had a busy day in Pioche, the County Seat. He got his dynamite, with caps and fuses, and had it boxed to take back with him in a package that would not invite comment. Dynamite was used for well-digging, as well as the sporadic mining still carried on in the county. But he preferred over-caution. Jackson was to meet him with the buck-board in the evening.

He found in Pioche's only second-hand store some kerosene lamps that had been sold by a one-horse circus that had come to an end at Pioche. They consisted of cone containers from which the kerosene ran down to open burners, giving out a good flare. Six of these he purchased at a low price. He bought six electric torches with extra batteries,