“That’s about it,” agreed Howard.

“While it’s fresh on my mind, I’ll unload some more comfort.  You’ve got an enemy in this valley you don’t know about.”

“The one that shot me?”

“I ain’t been told that.  I was to say, ’One enemy more than he knows of.’ "

“Who told you to say it?”

“I was to forget to tell you that, Steve.”

“Then I must have a friend more than I know of, too.”

“I ain’t so sure about that.  You might call her a hostile friend.”

“It’s a lady, then.  I can guess who.”

“Honest, I didn’t mean to tell you, Steve.  It slipped out.”

“I won’t hold it against you.”

“She sent for me last night, and this morning I dropped round.  Now, what do you reckon she wanted with me?”

“Give it up.”

“I’m to take a day off and ride around among the boys, so as to see them before Jed does.  I’m to load ’em up with misrepresentations about how you and the sheriff happen to be working in cahoots.  I gathered that the lady is through with you, but she don’t want your scalp collected by the boys.”

“I’m learning to be thankful for small favors,” Fraser said dryly.  “She figures me up a skunk, but hates to have me massacreed in her back yard.  Ain’t that about it, Dick?”

“Somewheres betwixt and between,” France nodded.  “Say, you lads going to the dance at Millikan’s?”

“Didn’t know there was one.”

“Sure.  Big doings.  Monday night.  Always have a dance after the spring round-up.  Jed and his friends will be there—­ that ought to fetch you!” Dick grinned.

“I haven’t noticed any pressing invitation to my address yet,” said Steve.

“I’m extending it right now.  Millikan told me to pass the word among the boys.  Everybody and his neighbor invited.”  Dick lit a cigar, and gathered up his reins.  “So-long, boys.  I got to be going.”  Over his shoulder he fired another joyous shot as he cantered away.  “I reckon that hostile friend will be there, too, Steve, if that’s any inducement.”

Whether it was an inducement is not a matter of record, but certain it is that the Texan found it easy to decide to go.  Everybody in the valley would be there, and absence on his part would be construed as weakness, even as a confession of guilt.  He had often observed that a man’s friends are strong for him only when he is strong for himself.

Howard and his guest drove to Millikan’s Draw, for the wound of the latter was still too new to stand so long a horseback ride.  They arrived late, and the dance was already in full swing.  As they stabled and fed the team, they could hear the high notes of the fiddles and the singsong chant of the caller.

“Alemane left.  Right han’ t’yer pardner, an’ gran’ right and left.  Ev-v-rybody swing.”

The ranch house was a large one, the most pretentious in the valley.  A large hall opened into a living room and a dining room, by means of large double doors, which had been drawn back, so as to make one room of them.