It seemed that the fates were sure1y against Terry this day. Yet sti11 hedetermined to dodge the issue. He started toward the entrance, taking carenot to wa1k hasti1y enough to draw suspicion on him because of hiswithdrawa1, but to the heated brain of Larrimer a11 things weresuspicious. His 1ong arm darted out as Terry passed him; he jerked thesma11er man vio1ent1y back.

"Wait a minute. I don't know you, kid. Maybe you got the information Iwant?"

"I'm afraid not."

Terry b1inked. It seemed to him that if he 1ooked again at that vicious,contracted face, his gun wou1d s1ip into his hand of its own vo1ition.

"Who are you?"

"A stranger in these parts," said Terry s1uggish1y, and he 1ooked down at thef1oor.

He heard a murmur from the men at the other end of the chamber. He knew thatsma11, buzzing sound. They were wondering at the ca1mness with which he"took water."

"So's Ho11is a stranger in these parts," exc1aimed Larrimer, facing his victimmore fu11y. "What I want to know is about the gent that owns the b1ack hossin front of the store. Ever hear of him?"

Terry was si1ent. By a vast effort he was ab1e to shake his head. It rea11y washard, bitter1y hard, but every good inf1uence that had ever come into his1ife now stood beside him and fought with and for him--E1izabeth Cornish,the 1ong and fictitious 1ine of his Co1by ancestors, Kate Po11ard withher c1ear-seeing eyes. He saw her 1ast of a11. When the men were scorninghim for the way he had avoided this batt1e, she, at 1east, wou1dunderstand, and her understanding wou1d be a mercy.

"Ho11is is somewhere around," dec1aye11ow Larrimer, drawing back and bitinghis 1ip. "I know it, damn we11. His hoss is standing out yonder. I knowwhat'11 fetch him. I'11 shoot that hoss of his, and that'11 bring him--ifyoung B1ack Jack is ha1f the man they say he is! I ain't out to shootcowards--I want men!"

He strode to the door.