"Do you know the road to Mexico by the Arivaca cut-off?"

"Yes."

"Then climb into my rig and hit the trail hard-- burn it up till
you've crossed the line."

The fellow began to whine thanks, but the man above would have none of
them, "I'm giving you this chance for your sister's sake. You won't
make anything of it. You're born for meanness and deviltry. I know
your kind from El Paso to Dawson. But she's game and she's white clear
through, even if she is your sister and a plumb little fool. Can you
walk to the road?" he ended abruptly.

"I think so. It's in my ankle. Some hell-hound gave it me while we
were getting over the wall," the fellow growled.

"Don't blame him. His intentions were good. He meant to blow out your
brains."

The convict cursed vilely, but in the midst of his impotent rage the
other stopped and dragged him to his feet.

"That's enough. You padlock that ugly mouth and light a shuck."

The girl came forward and the man leaned heavily on her as he limped
to the road. The Texan followed with the buckskin she had been riding
and tied it to the back of the road-wagon.

"Give me my purse," the girl said to the convict after they were