“When is it to be?”

“I don’t know.”

“Who told you?”

“Bud Proctor.  He says Yankie and Albeen and that crowd are spending hundreds of dollars at the bars.”

“I knew there was somethin’ on foot soon as we hit town—­felt it in the air.”  The sheriff looked at his watch.  “We can just catch the afternoon train, Jack.  Take this bird downstairs an’ lock him up.  I’ll join you in a minute.”

“What are you going to do?” asked Lee as soon as they were alone.

“Goin’ to slip Jim aboard the train an’ take him to Santa Fe.”

“Can you do it without being seen?”

“I’ll tell you that later,” he answered with a grim smile.  “Much obliged, honey.  I’m goin’ to be right busy now, but I’ll see you soon as I get back to town.”

Lee nodded good-bye and wait out.  She liked it in him that just now he had no time even for her.  From the door she glanced back.  Already he was busy getting his guns ready.

Prince got his keys and unlocked the room where Clanton was.  Jim was on the bed reading an old newspaper.

“Hello, Billie,” he grinned.

“We’re leaving on the afternoon train, Jim.  Get a move on you an’ hustle yore things together.”

“Thought you weren’t goin’ till next week.”

“Changed my mind.  Jim, there’s trouble afoot.  Yore enemies are all in town.  I want to get you away.”

Clanton did not bat an eye.  “Plannin’ a necktie party, are they?”

“They’ve got notions.  Mine are different.”  “Do I get a gun if it comes to a showdown, Billie?”

“You do.  I’ll appoint you a deputy.”

Jim laughed.  “That sounds reasonable.”

Goodheart joined them.  The three men left the back door of the court-house and cut across the square.  The station was three blocks distant.  Before they had covered a hundred yards a boy on the other side of the street stopped, stared at them, and disappeared into the nearest saloon.

The prisoner looked at his friend and grinned gayly.  “Somethin’ stirrin’ soon.  We’re liable to have a breeze in this neighborhood, looks like.”

They reached the station without being molested, but down the street could be seen much bustle of men running to and fro.  Prince looked at them anxiously.

“The clans are gathering,” murmured Clanton nonchalantly, his hands in his pockets.  “Don’t you reckon maybe you’ll have to feed me to the wolves after all, Billie?”

A saddled horse blinked in the sun beside the depot, the bridle rein trailing on the ground.  Its owner sat on a dry-goods box and whittled.  Jim glanced at the bronco casually.  Jack Goodheart also observed the cowpony.  He whispered to the sheriff.

Prince turned to his prisoner.  “Jim, you can take that horse an’ hit the dust, if you like.”

“Meanin’ that you can’t protect me?”

The salient jaw of the sheriff tightened.  He looked what he was, a man among ten thousand, quiet and forceful, strong as tested steel.