is

`` This is a mighty empty country '', Morgan said.

This is the Rafter Aj.

Laurel is gone, my men are gone, Ed is dead -- and you come to me, to help me.

But California is where we're goin ''.

Clayton is with him, takin him out of the valley.

His wife had said to him: `` Nellie is in love with Clayton Roy.

California is too far, he thought.

`` The main bunch is outside, but there are some over there inside the wall ''.

`` No telling how good this horse is '', Mike panted.

My God, how long is he going to wait, I thought.

`` Gray Eyes is back,, Montero said.

`` This is Mitchell Barton.

That's really all he's got, all he is.

that is, to show no curiosity whatsoever.

`` But to take him and leave his mother behind is not good ''.

`` Exterminatin' cow thieves is just a business proposition with me '', he'd blandly announce.

But there's one thing I never seen or heard of, one thing I just don't think there is, and that's a sportin' way o' killin' a man ''!!

It is possible, although highly doubtful, that he killed none at all but merely let his reputation work for him by privately claiming every unsolved murder in the state.

It is also possible, but equally doubtful, that he actually shot down the hundreds of men with which his legend credits him.

( The best evidence is that he received a monthly wage of about $125, very good money in an era when top hands worked for $30 and found.

`` What is it you want me to do, Mr. Brenner ''??

He started toward the stairway, then turned to add, `` Tell her to come to Adams's room, that Adams is in trouble.

Even the knowledge that she was losing another boy, as a mother always does when a marriage is made, did not prevent her from having the first carefree, dreamless sleep that she had known since they dropped down the canyon and into Bear Valley, way, way back there when they were crossing those other mountains.

`` That is, if we can be sure this is Colcord's money '' --