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in Frisco that Cherokee Bob knew suthin' agin Johnson way back in
the States； anyhow； I believe it's understood that they came across
the plains together in '50and Bob hounded Johnson and blackmailed
him here where he was livin'； even to the point of makin' him help
him on the road or give information； until one day Johnson bucked
against itkicked over the tracesand swore he'd be revenged on
Bob； and then just settled himself down to that business。 Wotever
he'd been and done himself he made it all right with the sheriff
here； and I've heard ez it wasn't anything criminal or that sort；
but that it was o' some private trouble that he'd confided to that
hound Bob； and Bob had threatened to tell agen him。 That's the
grudge they say Johnson has； and that's why he's allowed to be the
head devil in this yer affair。 It's an understood thing； too； that
the sheriff and the police ain't goin' to interfere if Johnson
accidentally blows the top of Bob's head off in the scrimmage of a
capter。〃
〃And I reckon Bob wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing to him
when he finds out that Johnson has given him away？〃
〃I reckon；〃 said the other； sententiously； 〃for it's Johnson's
knowledge of the country and the hoss…stealers that are in with
Bob's gang of road agents that made it easy for him to buy up and
win over Bob's friends here； so that they'd help to trap him。〃
〃It's pretty rough on Bob to be sold out in that way；〃 said the
second speaker； sympathizingly。
〃If they were white men； p'rhaps；〃 returned his companion；
contemptuously； 〃but this yer's a case of Injin agen Injin； ez the
men are Mexican half…breeds just as Bob's a half Cherokee。 The
sooner that kind o' cross cattle exterminate each other the better
it'll be for the country。 It takes a white man like Johnson to set
'em by the ears。〃
A silence followed。 Ezekiel； beginning to be slightly bored with
his cheaply acquired but rather impractical information； was about
to slip back into the passage again when he was arrested by a laugh
from the first speaker。
〃What's the matter？〃 growled the other。 〃Do you want to bring the
whole posada out here？〃
〃I was only thinkin' what a skeer them innocent greenhorn
passengers will get just ez they're snoozing off for the night； ten
miles from here；〃 responded his friend； with a chuckle。 〃Wonder ef
anybody's goin' up from here besides that patent medicine softy。〃
Ezekiel stopped as if petrified。
〃Ef the fools keep quiet they won't be hurt； for our men will
be ready to chip in the moment of the attack。 But we've got to let
the attack be made for the sake of the evidence。 And if we warn
off the passengers from going this trip； and let the stage go up
empty； Bob would suspect something and vamose。 But here's
Johnson！〃
The door in the adobe wall had suddenly opened； and a figure in a
serape entered the patio。 Ezekiel； whose curiosity was whetted
with indignation at the ignominious part assigned to him in this
comedy； forgot even his risk of detection by the newcomer； who
advanced quickly towards the compartment。 When he had reached it
he said； in a tone of bitterness：
〃The game is up； gentlemen； and the whole thing is blown。 The
scoundrel has got some confederate herefor he's been seen openly
on the road near Demorest's ranch； and the band have had warning
and dispersed。 We must find out the traitor； and take our
precautions for the next time。 Who is that there？ I don't know
him。〃
He was pointing to Ezekiel； who had started eagerly forward at the
first sound of his voice。 The two occupants of the compartment
rose at the same moment； leaped into the courtyard； and confronted
Ezekiel。 Surrounded by the three menacing figures he did not
quail； but remained intently gazing upon the newcomer。 Then his
mouth opened； and he drawled lazily：
〃Wa'al； ef it ain't Squire Blandford； of North Liberty； Connecticut；
I'm a treed coon。 Squire Blandford； how DO you do？〃
The stranger drew back in undisguised amazement； the two men
glanced hurriedly at each other； Ezekiel alone remained cool；
smiling； imperturbable； and triumphant。
〃Who are YOU； sir？ I do not know you；〃 demanded the newcomer；
roughly。
〃Like ez not；〃 said Corwin dryly； 〃it's a matter o' four year sense
I lived in your house。 Even Dick Demorestyou knew Dick？didn't
know me； but I reckon that Mrs。 Blandford as used to be〃
〃That's enough；〃 said Blandfordfor it was hesuddenly mastering
both himself and Corwin by a supreme emphasis of will and gesture。
〃Wait！〃 Then turning to the two others who were discreetly
regarding the blank adobe wall before them； he said： 〃Excuse me for
a few minutes； gentlemen。 There is no hurry now。 I will see you
later；〃 and with an imperative wave of his hand motioned Ezekiel to
precede him into the passage； and followed him。
He did not speak until they entered the stage office； when； passing
through it； he said peremptorily： 〃Follow me。〃 The few loungers；
who seemed to recognize him； made way for him with a singular
deference that impressed Ezekiel； already dominated by his manner。
The first perception in his mind was that Blandford had in some
strange way succeeded to Demorest's former imperious character。
There was no trace left of the old； gentle subjection to Joan's
prim precision。 Ezekiel followed him out of the office as
unresistingly as he had followed Demorest into the stables on that
eventful night。 They passed down the narrow street until Blandford
suddenly stopped short and turned into the crumbling doorway of one
of the low adobe buildings and entered an apartment。 It seemed to
be the ordinary living…room of the house； made more domestic by the
presence of a silk counterpaned bed in one corner； a prie Dieu and
crucifix； and one or two articles of bedchamber furniture。 A woman
was sitting in deshabille by the window； a man was smoking on a
lounge against the wall。 Blandford； in the same peremptory manner；
addressed a command in Spanish to the inmates； who immediately
abandoned the apartment to the seeming trespasser。
Motioning his companion to a seat on the lounge just vacated；
Blandford folded his arms and stood erect before him。
〃Well；〃 he said； with quick； business conciseness； 〃what do you
want？〃
Ezekiel was staggered out of his complacency。
〃Wa'al；〃 he stammered； 〃I only reckoned to ask the news； ez we are
old friendsI〃
〃How much do you want？〃 repeated Blandford； impatiently。
Ezekiel was mystified； yet expectant。 〃I can't say ez I exakly
understand；〃 he began。
〃Howmuchmoneydoyouwant；〃 continued Blandford； with frigid
accuracy； 〃to get up and get out of this place？〃
〃Wa'al； consideren ez I'm travellin' here ez the only authorized
agent of a first…class Frisco Drug House；〃 said Ezekiel； with a
mingling of mortification； pride； and hopefulness； 〃unless you're
travellin' in the opposition business； I don't see what's that to
you。〃
Blandford regarded him searchingly for an instant。 〃Who sent you
here？〃
〃Dilworth & Dusenberry； Battery Street； San Francisco。 Hev their
card？〃 said Ezekiel； taking one from his waistcoat pocket。
〃Corwin；〃 said Blandford； sternly； 〃whatever your business is here
you'll find it will pay you better； a sight； to be frank with
me and stop this Yankee shuffling。 You say you have been with
Demorestwhat has HE got to do with your business here？〃
〃Nothin'；〃 said Ezekiel。 〃I reckon he wos ez astonished to see me
ez you are。〃
〃And didn't he send you here to seek me？〃 said Blandford；
impatiently。
〃Considerin' he believes you a dead man； I reckon not。〃
Blandford gave a hard； constrained laugh。 After a pause； still
keeping his eyes fixed on Ezekiel； he said：
〃Then your recognition of me was accidental？〃
〃Wa'al； yes。 And ez I never took much stock in the stories that
you were washed off the Warensboro Bridge； I ain't much astonished
at finding you agin。〃
〃What did you believe happened to me？〃 said Blandford； less
brusquely。
Ezekiel noticed the softening； he felt his own turn coming。 〃I
kalkilated you had reasons for going off； leaving no address behind
you；〃 he drawled。
〃What reasons？〃 asked Blandford； with a sudden rel