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saw no reason for declining a free drink 〃without prejudice。〃 And
it was a part of the irony of the situation that Steptoe and Van
Loo were also obliged to participate to keep in with their
partisans。 It was； however； an opportune diversion to Van Loo； who
managed to get nearer the door leading to the back entrance of the
hotel； and to Mr。 Jack Hamlin； who was watching him； as the men
closed up to the bar。
The toast was drunk with acclamation； followed by another and yet
another。 Steptoe and Van Loo； who had kept their heads cool； were
both wondering if Hamlin's intention were to intoxicate and
incapacitate the crowd at the crucial moment； and Steptoe smiled
grimly over his superior knowledge of their alcoholic capacity。
But suddenly there was the greater diversion of a shout from the
road； the on…coming of a cloud of red dust； and the halt of another
vehicle before the door。 This time it was no jaded single horse
and dust…stained buggy； but a double team of four spirited
trotters； whose coats were scarcely turned with foam； before a
light station wagon containing a single man。 But that man was
instantly recognized by every one of the outside loungers and
stable…boys as well as the staring crowd within the saloon。 It was
James Stacy； the millionaire and banker。 No one but himself knew
that he had covered half the distance of a night…long ride from
Boomville in two hours。 But before they could voice their
astonishment Stacy had thrown a letter to the obsequious landlord；
and then gathering up the reins had sped away to the railroad
station half a mile distant。
〃Looks as if the Boss of Creation was in a hurry；〃 said one of the
eager gazers in the doorway。 〃Somebody goin' to get smashed；
sure。〃
〃More like as if he was just humpin' himself to keep from getting
smashed；〃 said Steptoe。 〃The bank hasn't got over the effect of
their smart deal in the Wheat Trust。 Everything they had in their
hands tumbled yesterday in Sacramento。 Men like me and you ain't
goin' to trust their money to be 'jockeyed' with in that style。
Nobody but a man with a swelled head like Stacy would have even
dared to try it on。 And now； by G…d！ he's got to pay for it。〃
The harsh； exultant tone of the speaker showed that he had quite
forgotten Van Loo and Hamlin in his superior hatred of the
millionaire； and both men noticed it。 Van Loo edged still nearer
to the door； as Steptoe continued； 〃Ever since he made that big
strike on Heavy Tree five years ago； the country hasn't been big
enough to hold him。 But mark my words； gentlemen； the time ain't
far off when he'll find a two…foot ditch again and a pick and grub
wages room enough and to spare for him and his kind of cattle。〃
〃You're not drinking；〃 said Jack Hamlin cheerfully。
Steptoe turned towards the bar； and then started。 〃Where's Van
Loo？〃 he demanded of Jack sharply。
Jack jerked his thumb over his shoulder。 〃Gone to hurry up his
girl； I reckon。 I calculate he ain't got much time to fool away
here。〃
Steptoe glanced suspiciously at Jack。 But at the same moment they
were all startledeven Jack himselfat the apparition of Mrs。
Barker passing hurriedly along the veranda before the windows in
the direction of the still waiting buggy。 〃Dn it！〃 said Steptoe
in a fierce whisper to the man next him。 〃Tell her not THEREat
the back door！〃 But before the messenger reached the door there
was a sudden rattle of wheels； and with one accord all except
Hamlin rushed to the veranda； only to see Mrs。 Barker driving
rapidly away alone。 Steptoe turned back into the room； but Jack
also had disappeared。
For in the confusion created at the sight of Mrs。 Barker； he had
slipped to the back door and found； as he suspected； only one
horse； and that with a side…saddle on。 His intuitions were right。
Van Loo； when he disappeared from the saloon； had instantly fled；
taking the other horse and abandoning the woman to her fate。 Jack
as instantly leaped upon the remaining saddle and dashed after him。
Presently he caught a glimpse of the fugitive in the distance；
heard the half…angry； half…ironical shouts of the crowd at the back
door； and as he reached the hilltop saw； with a mingling of
satisfaction and perplexity； Mrs。 Barker on the other road； still
driving frantically in the direction of the railroad station。 At
which Mr。 Hamlin halted； threw away his encumbering saddle； and；
good rider that he was； remounted the horse； barebacked but for his
blanket…pad； and thrusting his knees in the loose girths； again
dashed forwards；with such good results that； as Van Loo galloped
up to the stagecoach office； at the next station； and was about to
enter the waiting coach for Marysville； the soft hand of Mr。 Hamlin
was laid on his shoulder。
〃I told you；〃 said Jack blandly； 〃that I had plenty of time。 I
would have been here BEFORE and even overtaken you； only you had
the better horse and the only saddle。〃
Van Loo recoiled。 But he was now desperate and reckless。
Beckoning Jack out of earshot of the other passengers； he said with
tightened lips； 〃Why do you follow me？ What is your purpose in
coming here？〃
〃I thought；〃 said Hamlin dryly； 〃that I was to have the pleasure of
getting satisfaction from you for the insult you gave me。〃
〃Well； and if I apologize for it； what then？〃 he said quickly。
Hamlin looked at him quietly。 〃Well； I think I also said something
about the lady being the wife of a friend of mine。〃
〃And I have left her BEHIND。 Her husband can take her back without
disgrace； for no one knows of her flight but you and me。 Do you
think your shooting me will save her？ It will spread the scandal
far and wide。 For I warn you； that as I have apologized for what
you choose to call my personal insult； unless you murder me in cold
blood without witness； I shall let them know the REASON of your
quarrel。 And I can tell you more： if you only succeed in STOPPING
me here； and make me lose my chance of getting away； the scandal to
your friend will be greater still。〃
Mr。 Hamlin looked at Van Loo curiously。 There was a certain amount
of conviction in what he said。 He had never met this kind of
creature before。 He had surpassed even Hamlin's first intuition of
his character。 He amused and interested him。 But Mr。 Hamlin was
also a man of the world； and knew that Van Loo's reasoning might be
good。 He put his hands in his pockets； and said gravely； 〃What IS
your little game？〃
Van Loo had been seized with another inspiration of desperation。
Steptoe had been partly responsible for this situation。 Van Loo
knew that Jack and Steptoe were not friends。 He had certain
secrets of Steptoe's that might be of importance to Jack。 Why
should he not try to make friends with this powerful free…lance and
half…outlaw？
〃It's a game；〃 he said significantly； 〃that might be of interest to
your friends to hear。〃
Hamlin took his hands out of