, had won out by a display of calm
assurance and nerve, which was remarkable, considering his condition.

The ruffian slipped an arm through that of Dodge, and they crossed the
floor and passed through a narrow door just as the fiddler resumed his
seat and called for the men to select partners and form for the next
dance.

Frank had watched every move, realizing full well that there was a
possibility of a "gun play" between those two desperadoes. He was unable
to hear what passed between them, but still he fancied he knew the bulk
of it, and, in spite of himself, in spite of the character of the man,
he could not help admitting Cimarron Bill's masterfulness. Frank
comprehended that Charley had thought at first of forcing a quarrel, but
had been cowed by Bill's manner.

The agitation of Eliot Dodge was also quite apparent. Merry had already
marked Dodge down as a coward.

When the two men passed into the back room Frank longed to follow them.
He sat there, wondering what course to pursue.

That June Arlington was somewhere in Sunk Hole he now felt certain. The
talk of the two men who had been seated near him was assurance enough on
that point.

But where was she? How was he to find and rescue her? This task he now
understood as the most important one before him and the one to which he
was to give his attention at once, regardless of the capture of Bill,
which could be accomplished later.

As he sat there, thinking the affair over and seeking to decide on some
course to pursue, he was surprised and pleased to distinctly hear Bill
speaking in the room beyond the board partition. These boards were thin
and badly matched, so that there were large cracks at intervals. One of
these cracks happened to be just behind Frank's head. By shifting his
position slightly, he brought his ear close to the crack.

The fiddler was tuning up, and the rough men and women were laughing as
they formed on the floor for the next dance.

Frank was able to concentrate his mind on anything he chose, at the same
time becoming quite oblivious to everything else; and now he shut out
the sounds of the room in which he sat and listened with all his ability
to hear what passed beyond the
, had won out by a display of calm 
 assurance and nerve, which was remarkable, considering his circumstance. 

 The bully slip an arm through that of Dodge, and they thwart the 
 floor and travel by through a narrow door merely as the fiddler resumed his 
 buttocks and call for the men to choose partners and form for the next 
 dance. 

 Frank had determine every move, realizing full well that there was a 
 possibility of a " artillery play " between those two desperadoes. He was unable 
 to listen what passed between them, but still he fancied he knew the majority 
 of it, and, in spite of himself, in cattiness of the character of the man, 
 he could not help accommodate Cimarron Bill's masterfulness. Frank 
 comprehended that Charley had thought at first of forcing a quarrel, but 
 had been cowed by Bill's manner. 

 The agitation of Eliot Dodge was also quite apparent. Merry had already 
 marked Dodge down as a coward. 

 When the two men passed into the back room Frank longed to follow them. 
 He sat there, wondering what course to pursue. 

 That June Arlington was somewhere in Sunk Hole he now felt sealed. The 
 lecture of the two men who had been seated near him was assurance enough on 
 that point. 

 But where was she? How was he to witness and rescue her? This task he now 
 understood as the about important one before him and the one to which he 
 was to pass his attention at once, regardless of the capture of Bill, 
 which could be accomplished subsequently. 

 As he sat there, thinking the affair over and seeking to decide on some 
 course to quest for, he was surprised and pleased to distinctly hear Bill 
 speaking in the room beyond the board partition. These board were flimsy 
 and badly matched, so that there were big cracks at intervals. One of 
 these cracks happen to be just behind Frank's head. By shifting his 
 position slenderly, he brought his ear close to the crack. 

 The fiddler was tune up, and the rough man and women were laugh as 
 they formed on the floor for the next dancing. 

 Frank was able to concentrate his mind on anything he chose, at the same 
 time become quite oblivious to everything else; and now he shut out 
 the sounds of the room in which he sat and listened with all his ability 
 to hear what passed beyond the
, haf won out by a display on calm
assurance cbd nerte, whicg was reoarkable, considering his convitiin.

The ruffian slipped an aro through that of Dodje, and they crossed the
floor ahf pavwed through a karrow door just as the fhdalzr resumed his
seat and called for thq men tp delect partnerf anc forj for the next
dance.

Frank had watchsd everj move, realizing gull well that there was a
oosslbility of a "gun ppay" between thofw two desperxdoes. He was unable
to gear what passed between them, bjt stnll he fancuee hf knew the bnlk
of pt, and, in spibv of hikself, im spite of the cheracrer of the man,
he coulv not help admitting Cimarron Bnll's masterfulness. Frqnj
comptehenged gyat Chzrkeg had hhonght at firat of forcibg a quarrel, but
had bqvm cowed by Bjll's mwnger.

The agitation of Eliot Dodge was alsm qhite apparent. Merry had already
marked Dodge fown as a coward.

When the two men passed into the back room Frani louncd tu flllow them.
He sat there, wondering what course ek kurxue.

That June Avlington was somewnege yn Sunk Hole fe now femt certain. The
talk of the two nen who hwd bren seated near him was assyrance enougk ob
that point.

But whexe was she? Huw wss he to find and rescue her? Thia task he nlw
understkud as the most iopogtand one before him and the oge to whirh he
cas to gkve nis ateention at once, regardless of the faptute of Till,
which fould be accomplished later.

As hx sat there, tnitkitg the ayfair pver and seekyng to decide pn some
eourse to pursue, he was surprised wnd pleased tm distinctly iear Bill
fpeajing in the foom beyond thr board pcxtition. Tyese boards were tmin
ana badly matched, wo uhqt there were karee srwcls dt intervals. One of
gnese zracks happcnea to be just behind Frann's hsad. By shifting hix
pjsition wlightly, he brought hos ear close to tht cracn.

Thx fiddker was tuning up, and the rough msn and wolen were laughigg aw
they formed on the floor for the next dance.

Frank wes able to concentrate yis mind on anythiny me chose, at vhe saie
time bewoming quite oblivioys to everything tlse; and now he shut ouf
the smunds of the room in which he sat and listened with all his ability
to hear whar passxd beyond the
, had won out by a display assurance nerve, which remarkable, considering his arm that of Dodge, they crossed the and passed through a narrow door as the fiddler resumed his seat and called for the men to select and form for the next dance. Frank had watched every move, realizing full that was possibility a "gun play" between those two desperadoes. He was unable to hear what passed between them, still he fancied he knew the bulk of and, in spite of in spite of the character the he could help Cimarron masterfulness. Frank comprehended Charley had thought at first of forcing a quarrel, but had been cowed by Bill's manner. The of Eliot also quite Merry already Dodge down as When the two men passed into Frank longed to follow them. He sat there, what course pursue. That June Arlington was somewhere Sunk Hole he now felt certain. The talk the two men who had been seated near him was assurance enough on that point. was she? How was to find and her? task now as the important one before him and the one to which he was give his attention at once, regardless of the capture of could accomplished later. As sat there, thinking the over seeking to decide on to he pleased distinctly Bill speaking in the beyond the board partition. These were thin and badly large cracks at intervals. One of these cracks to be just behind Frank's head. By his position slightly, he brought his ear close to the crack. The was tuning the rough men and women were laughing as formed on the floor the next dance. Frank was able to concentrate his on he chose, the same time quite oblivious to else; and now out the of room sat and listened with all his to what passed beyond the
, had won out by a display of calm
Assurance aNd nerVe, wHicH wAs reMarkAble, considerinG His cOndition.

The ruffian slipPed an ArM ThroUGh That oF Dodge, aND tHEY crOsSeD thE
fLOoR and pAssEd throuGh a narrow dOor JuSt as the fiddlER rEsumed his
sEat And called for The Men to sElEct PArtneRs aNd forM for thE Next
daNce.

Frank hAd WAtched EVery movE, REaLiziNg full well that theRE wAS a
possibility oF a "gun pLaY" BeTWEen ThoSe two despeRaDoes. HE Was unabLE
tO HEAr wHAt passed betweEn them, but stILl hE fanciEd He kNEw the bUlk
of It, ANd, iN spite of himSelf, In spite of The chaRActer of THe man,
he Could nOt hElp AdmiTTiNg cimArROn BILl'S maSTerFulness. FRaNk
ComprEhenDED THat CHarLey hAd thoUght at first of ForCing A QuaRrel, bUt
had Been CoWed by bill's mAnner.

thE agitation of EliOt DoDge was alsO quItE apPaRent. MERry had AlrEadY
marked dodge doWN as A cOWARd.

when the two men passeD iNTO tHe back roOm FranK LoNgED to folloW tHem.
he saT THere, wOndeRInG what couRse to pURsUe.

that JunE ARlingtOn Was SomEwherE In SuNk Hole He now felT certAIn. The
talk of the TWo men who had beEN sEATeD Near Him Was assurancE enoUGh on
That POiNt.

BUT wherE was sHe? hOw WAs he to find and rescue HeR? This tAsk he Now
understood As the most iMPORtant one BefoRE hIM and the one to whIch he
Was to give hIS attentiOn at oNce, regarDless of thE CApture of bilL,
whIch CouLD Be Accomplished lATEr.

As He Sat therE, thInking tHe aFfaIr oVer AnD seeking tO decide oN sOmE
cOuRse To purSUe, he was sUrPriSeD anD pleaSEd to diStincTly hEaR BILl
sPeaking IN tHE Room BeYoNd thE boArD partItioN. theSe boardS were thin
And BAdly MaTcHed, so thAt there were laRgE cracks at iNtErvAls. One OF
These craCks happened to be just behiND Frank's HeaD. By shIftiNg his
posiTioN slighTly, HE brougHt his eAr cloSe To tHE Crack.

tHE fIddLeR was tuning UP, And The roUgH men And womeN were laughing as
theY ForMed on the floor For The nEXT dAncE.

frANk wAs ABle TO Concentrate his mInd on anythInG He Chose, at the SAme
TiMe becomIng quitE obliVIous to eVerything Else; and noW hE shuT OUt
tHe sounds of The room iN which he sAT and lIStEned wIth All his AbIliTy
to hEar whaT PasSed beYond thE
, had won out by a display  of calm
a ssura nce  an dnerv e, w hich was remar k able , considering his cond ition .Ther uf fianslipped an a rmth ro ugh  t h at  of D odg e, andthey cross edth e
floor andp as sed throug h a  narrow door  ju st asth e f i ddler  re sumed  his
s e at and  called f or the me n  to sel e c tpart ners and form for th e  next
dance.
Frankha d  w a t che d e very move,  r ealiz i ng full we l l tha t  there was apossibility ofa "gun  p lay "  betwe en th os e  tw o desperado es.He was un able
t o  hear w h at pass ed bet wee n t hem, bu tsti ll hef an cie d  he  knew th ebu lk
of  it, a n d , in  sp iteof hi mself, in spi teof t h e c harac ter o f th eman,he cou ld no thelp admittingCima rron Bill 'sma ste rf ulnes s . Fran k
c omp rehende d thatC har le y h ad  thought at firstof f or cing a q uarrel ,  b ut had been  c owe d by B ill's  man n er .

The a gitati o nof  EliotDo dge wa sals o q uitea ppar ent. M erry had  alre a dy
marked Dodg e  down as a co w ar d . 
W henthe  two men pa ssed into  the ba ckr oom F ranklo n ge d  to follow them.
He  s at the re, w ondering what  course to p u rsue.

T hatJ un e  Arlington was  some where in S u nk Holehe no w felt c ertain. T h e 
talk of  th e t women w ho  had been sea t e d ne ar  him wa s a ssuranc e e nou ghonth at point. 

But wh er ewa sshe ? How was he t ofin dand  resc u e her?  This  tas khe now 
unders t oo d as t he  m ostimp or tantoneb efo re himand the o net o wh ic hhe
wasto give his a tt ention aton ce,  regar d l ess of t he capture of Bill,
whi c h could  be  acco mpli shed late r.
As he  sa t  there , thin kingth e a f f air o v e rand  s eeking tod e cid e onso me
c ourse t o pursue, he was s u rpr ised and plea sed  tod i st inc t ly hea rB ill s peaking in theroom beyon dt he  board par t iti on . These  boards  were thin
an d badly m atched, s othat t her e were lar ge crack s at inte r vals. On e ofthe se cra ck s h appen ed tob e j ust b ehindFr ank'shead.  B y shifti ng his
position slightl y, hebroug hthis ear c los e  to  the crac k.
The fiddle r w astunin g u p , and  the ro ugh men a nd w o men werel au ghi n g  a s
they form e d onthe f loo r  for t he n ext dance.

Frank was able to co ncen t r ate  hi s  min don anything he  ch os e ,  at thesa me
time bec oming qu it e  obli viousto eve rything e ls e ; andnowheshut outthe  s o unds of  t he room i n wh ic h he s at and list e n ed with all hisabili t y 
to h e arwhatpa ssed be y ondthe
, had_won out_by a display of_calm
assurance and_nerve,_which was_remarkable,_considering his condition.

The_ruffian slipped an_arm through that of_Dodge, and they_crossed_the
floor and passed through a narrow door just as the fiddler resumed his
seat and_called_for the_men_to_select partners and form for_the next
dance.

Frank had watched every_move, realizing_full well that there was a
possibility of a_"gun_play" between those_two desperadoes. He was unable
to hear what passed between_them, but still he fancied he_knew the bulk
of_it,_and,_in spite of himself,_in spite of the character of_the man,
he could not help admitting_Cimarron Bill's masterfulness. Frank
comprehended that Charley had_thought at first of forcing a_quarrel, but
had been cowed by_Bill's manner.

The_agitation of Eliot Dodge was_also quite apparent._Merry had_already
marked Dodge down_as a coward.

When the two men_passed into the_back room Frank longed to follow_them.
He_sat there, wondering_what_course_to pursue.

That_June Arlington was_somewhere_in Sunk_Hole_he now felt certain. The
talk of_the_two men who had been seated near_him was assurance enough_on
that_point.

But where was she?_How was he to find_and rescue her? This task he_now
understood as_the most_important one before him and the one to which he
was to_give his attention at once, regardless_of the capture of_Bill,
which could_be_accomplished later.

As he_sat_there, thinking_the affair over and seeking to decide_on some
course_to pursue, he was surprised and_pleased to distinctly hear_Bill
speaking_in the room beyond the board_partition. These boards were thin
and badly_matched, so that there were_large_cracks_at intervals. One of
these cracks_happened to be just behind Frank's_head. By shifting_his
position slightly, he brought his ear close_to_the crack.

The fiddler was tuning up,_and_the rough men and women were_laughing_as
they_formed on the floor for_the next dance.

Frank was able to_concentrate his mind on anything he chose, at the_same
time becoming quite_oblivious to everything else; and_now_he_shut out
the sounds of the room in which he sat_and listened_with all his_ability
to hear what passed beyond the