HEN PLUMMER WAS STILL PACING THE FLOOR IN his room in the hotel when Three Finger opened the door. Plummer whirled on him.
"Where in hell have you been keeping yourself?"
Three Finger made no answer but slowly tamped his pipe with tobacco and lighted it. He straddled a chair and folded his arms across the back of it.
"Speak up, you infernal devil! Are you dumb?"
Three Finger spoke coolly and with meaning. "I come tuh collect five thousand from yuh, Plummer."
"Did yuh get him?" Plummer's eyes snapped anxiously. "Where is he? Is he dead or alive?"
"I didn't catch him this time, but I've got the gal."
"You mean you let him get away?" Plummer put a nervous hand to the back of his neck and gradually brought it around to his throat.
"He wasn't with her, but he was last night, fer one o' my men saw him. If I don't miss my guess, he'll be down on top o' us fer this. I've ordered our trusty deputies, seventy-five o' 'em, tuh hang around. Now, where's my money?"
"Where's the gal? Bring her to me. If things get too hot we'll have to make a fast getaway."
"She's safe enough, an' I knows whar she is, but nobody finds out till I git my claws on that five thousand."
"But I haven't got that much on me, and you know it," defended Plummer. "It's in the safe."
"They ain't no reason why yuh kain't go an' git it, is there?"
"I'll get it in the morning and give it to you. I tell you there isn't time for that now!"
Three Finger was eyeing him coldly. Glints of green showed in each eye. "Git that money, Plummer!" he said slowly, menacingly.
"All right--all right, if you don't trust me!" bellowed the sheriff.
"I ain't trustin' even my gran'mother! An' remember, they ain't tuh be no citizens in on this. Once they learn about this an'--there'll be a rope around our necks."
"Will you take me to her tonight, Three Finger? Then we'll throw our men about the place to guard it in case we're attacked by his gang."
"The gang's already about the place. She's as safe as if she was in yore jail, an' a damn sight safer. There ain't enough men in the Basin tuh take her away from that gang. But when I gits my hands on the money I'll bring her here."
"God! I wish Pokerface was out of the way!" Plummer cursed. "You never know what he's going to do. Oh, well--I'll get the money for you."
"I'll go with yuh, Plummer, jest in case yuh might be tempted tuh shoot me in the back."
* * * *
Bob Bainbridge had crossed the summit and was making his way into the Basin at a swinging gait when he caught sight of a rider coming up the trail toward him at breakneck speed. His heart contracted with fear as he intuitively surmised what had happened. Another instant and he recognized Shorty. He gave his horse the spurs to lessen the gap between them as quickly as possible. Both horses skidded in the crusted snow as they met.
"Three Finger's got Dixie!" Shorty shouted.
Bob's face blanched. Without a word he dug his spurs into the horse's flanks. Star Face shot forward. Bob urged him to his topmost speed. He seemed to forget that Shorty was with him. The miles flew by under the pounding hoofs. The trees, black and formidable, flashed by like black shadows.
As Bob's reasoning began trekking back he slackened his speed. There could be nothing gained by killing his horse. He must go at this thing calmly, for the odds were a hundred to one against him.
A half hour later the two partners stopped in front of Shorty's cabin where forty stalwart sober Vigilantes had gathered. These hardy quiet men who had answered Shorty's call meant business. Each was heavily armed. Bob greeted them soberly. He knew only too well that they were risking their lives if they failed in their mission.
The silver night was well spent and the day was fast creeping over the sky when Pat Davis came galloping into the yard.
"What news?" Bob asked anxiously.
"They must be seventy-five or more deputies hangin' around the hotel an' the Bannock Saloon, an' all's heavy armed. They's lookin' fer us tuh attack."
"Did you see Plummer or Three Finger Smith?"
"I seen Plummer once, but I don't think Three Finger's there. Leastways I didn't spy him."
Bob became very quiet as he weighed the doubtful situation. At length he turned his horse to face the men. His face looked grey in the morning light, but the lines of his rugged face were hard, and his voice gave no evidence of the emotions within.
"Well, boys, it looks like we're driving up a blind alley," he began. "We're in the dark and we're outnumbered two to one or better. The only thing we know is that they have Dixie, but we haven't any idea where she is. Men, they have committed a heinous crime against the decency and honor of our inland empire. We must remember that we are but a handful to go up against these desperate criminals. They're on the defensive now and have the added advantage of representing the only law in these parts. If we ride into town in a body and strike, some or all of us will be wiped out and many innocent people may be killed.
"Love and duty calls me to rescue Dixie Lee or die in the attempt. I'll be perfectly honest with you. I'm not certain, in any degree, of our success. I can't ask you to go further into this thing. If any or all of you want to turn back, now is the time."
"Go on! Go on!" came the shouts from the loyal Vigilantes.
"Then let's go!" he called, leading them down the trail toward Bannock City.
As they came nearer and nearer the stronghold of the enemy the more serious he became, the more formidable their objective appeared. In Bob's fancy, he could imagine every conceivable torture to Dixie, his Dixie. He could see the snow, blood red, from dying men who were so loyal to him.