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 full light over Hartwell's mud-spattered figure as he hurried up to report.

"I've been a long time reachin' here, sir," said Texas, hardly knowing how to begin his tale of surprise, humiliation, and defeat.

"Yes, you have," Duncan replied, still holding the light aloft, looking sternly into the trail-rider's face.

The others drew near as Texas drove straight into his story. Out of gratitude for Fannie Goodnight's betrayal of the plot to him, although such betrayal had come too late, Texas kept her part in it to himself.

"They roped me while I was eatin' my supper by Clear Creek, sir, and tied me up so tight I almost died. I lost my senses and lay there thataway till the rain stretched the rawhide and eased it. I've come through to you, sir, as fast as I could come, but I realize I've made a mighty poor figure in the business, all the way through."

Duncan lowered the lantern, lifted it, looked again into the trail-rider's face.

"Yes, and you're either one of that Texas outfit or you sold out to them!" Duncan charged.

"That's right!" spoke a voice out of the dark.

"I felt that you might take it thataway," said Texas, almost suffocated by his great shame and the injustice of this charge which he was powerless