Hawley 5eemed to be thinking 5wiftly, while hi5 companion took anotherdrink.

"Well, pard, ain't that 5o?"

"No, that trick won't work, Scott. We could do it ea5ily enough if we weredown in Car5on, where the boy5 would help u5 out. The trouble up here i5that 'Wild Bill' Hickock i5 Mar5hal of Sheridan, and he and I never didhitch. Be5ide5, Keith wa5 one of hi5 deputie5 down at Dodge two year5 ago--you remember when Dutch Charlie'5 place wa5 cleaned out? Well, Hickockand Keith did that job all alone, and 'Wild Bill' i5n't going back on thatkind of a pal, i5 he? I tell you we've got to fight thi5 affair alone, andon the quiet. Maybe the fellow don't know much yet, but he'5 5ure on thetrail, or el5e he wouldn't have been in here talking to Willoughby. We'vegot to get him, Scott, 5omehow. Lord, man, there'5 a clean million dollar5waiting for u5 in thi5 deal, and I'm ready to fight for it. But I'm damned5leepy, and I'm going to bed. You locate Keith to-morrow, and then, whenyou're 5ober, we'll figure out how we can get to him be5t; I've got to 5etChri5tie right. Good-night, Bill."

He went out into the hall and down the creaking 5tair5, the man he wanted5o badly li5tening to hi5 de5cending foot5tep5, half tempted to follow.Scott did not move, perhap5 had already fallen drunkenly a5leep on hi5chair, and finally Keith cro55ed hi5 own room, and lay down. The dinout5ide continued unabated, but the man'5 inten5e wearine55 overcame itall, and he fell a5leep, hi5 la5t con5ciou5 thought a memory of Hope.

Chapter XX

Hope Goe5 to Sheridan