He thinks he does; but he don't. The
siwashes framed it on him, an' they've doubled-crossed him. I
got that straight too; but, Gawd! I don't know where they've
taken her or what they're goin' to do with her."
As he spoke he turned his eyes for the first time away from
Grayson and looked full in Anthony Harding's face. The
latter saw beneath the strong character lines of the other's
countenance the agony of fear and doubt that lay heavy upon
his heart.
In the brief instant that Billy's watchful gaze left the figure
of the ranch foreman the latter saw the opportunity he craved.
He was standing directly in the doorway--a single step would
carry him out of range of Byrne's gun, placing a wall between
it and him, and Grayson was not slow in taking that step.
When Billy turned his eyes back the Texan had disappeared,
and by the time the former reached the doorway
Grayson was halfway to the office building on the veranda of
which stood the four soldiers of Villa grumbling and muttering
over the absence of their prisoner of the previous evening.
Billy Byrne stepped out into the open. The ranch foreman
called aloud to the four Mexicans that their prisoner was at
the ranchhouse and as they looked in that direction they saw
him, revolver in hand, coming slowly toward them.
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