"
Rogers growled: "Tell me what's up."
"The boys are goin' for the jail tonight. They'll get out Haines an'
string him up."
"It's comin' to him. He's played a hard game for a long time."
"An' so have you, Rogers, for a damn long time!"
Rogers swallowed the insult, apparently.
"What can I do?" he asked plaintively. "I'm willin' to give Silent and
his gang a square deal."
"You should of done something while they was only a half-dozen
cowpunchers in town. Now the town's full of riders an' they're all
after blood."
"An' my blood if they don't get Haines!" broke in the deputy sheriff.
Hardy grunted.
"They sure are," he said. "I've heard 'em talk, an' they mean
business. All of 'em. But how'd you answer to Jim Silent, Rogers? If
you let 'em get Haines--well, Haines is Silent's partner an' Jim'll
bust everything wide to get even with you."
"I c'n explain," said Rogers huskily. "I c'n show Silent how I'm
helpless."
Footsteps went up and down the room.
"If they start anything," said Rogers, "I'll mark down the names of
the ringleaders and I'll give 'em hell afterwards. That'll soothe Jim
some."
"You won't know 'em. They'll wear masks."
Dan opened the door and stepped into the room.
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