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 years in Kootenay. They had mined together in Colorado and Arizona, and had drifted together to Painted Rock. There were a thousand memories in common to both of them. They had been "partners," and partners in the Western as well as in the commercial sense. Now the law stood between them, and the decision of the law, and one had taken to drink, while the other was climbing up again in the great struggle of the West.

"I wish I'd bought a gun," said Bailey. That was his recurrent thought, "I wish I'd bought a gun."

He felt sure that if there had been no one in the jolting, swaying car that Crowle would have shot him then and there.

"I hear you brag you're comin' back," said Crowle.

"Yes, I'm coming back."

"You'll not come back," said Crowle; "you'll stay away from Painted Rock."

"I shall come back to Painted Rock the day after to-morrow," said Bailey.

And Crowle pulled his gun suddenly