him dearly. The hero, still with his back turned, drew his revolver
and took careful aim by means of the mirror.

This had been a spot where for a moment he was troubled. Instead of
pointing the weapon over his shoulder, aiming by the mirror, he was
directed to point it at the Mexican's reflection in the glass, and
to fire at this reflection. "It's all right," Baird assured him.
"It's a camera trick, see? It may look now as if you were shooting
into the mirror but it comes perfectly right on the film. You'll
see. Go on, aim carefully, right smack at that looking-glass--fire!"
Still somewhat doubting, Merton fired. The mirror was shattered, but
a dozen feet back of him the treacherous Mexican threw up his arms
and fell lifeless, a bullet through his cowardly heart. It was a
puzzling bit of trick-work, he thought, but Baird of course would
know what was right, so the puzzle was dismissed. Buck Benson,
silent man of the open, had got the scoundrel who would have played
him false.

A thrilling struggle ensued between Merton and the hellhound of
justice. Perceiving who had slain his would-be informant, the
detective came to confront Merton. Snatching off his cap and
mustache he stood revealed as the man who had not dared to arrest
him at the scene of his crime. With another swift movement he
snatched away the mustache that had disguised his quarry. Buck
Benson, at bay, sprang like a tiger upon his antagonist. They
struggled while the excited cowboys surged about them. The detective
proved to be no match for Benson. He was borne to earth, then raised
aloft and hurled over the adjacent tables.

This bit of acting had involved a trick which was not obscure to