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 subject of Smith the moment he saw me. He was obviously not a little excited, for he was one of the few who knew the rights of the story, and he hated Hale with all the fervour of a debtor who had no chance of clearing himself. He was deep in Hale's clutches, and Hale was a man of small consideration for the weak.

"I don't reckon to understand it, my son," said the old boarding-house keeper, "but I'm of opinion that Smith ain't come back to Texas for nothin' but the purpose of gettin' level with Hale."

"After all these years?" I asked.

"Why not?" replied Hamilton. "I've known a killin' to be postponed twenty years and come off after all. Oh, I'd rather be myself than Hale! For Smith's wife is dead, he tells me, and a daughter too, and there is a look about him that bodes no good to Hale. That's my notion, and I'll back it. Here he comes."

Smith came out on the verandah, and took a long chair and sat smoking.

"Hale's comin' to Painted Rock this night,"