He was as malevolent as ever, but it was plain to be seen that he was riding high on a wave of triumph. Affairs were plainly going to his liking.
"The way I heard it you were expected down at the Frying Pan last night. Changed yore mind about going, I reckon," he went on insolently.
"I reckon."
"Had business that detained you, maybe."
"You're a good guesser."
"Folks were right anxious down there, according to the say-so that reached me."
Keller's cool eye measured him in silence, at which his enemy laughed contemptuously and turned on his heel.
Healy drew his confederate to one side of the room and held a whispered talk with him. Apparently he did not greatly care whether his foe caught the drift of it or not, for occasionally his voice lifted enough so that scraps of sentences reached the man lounging on the bed.
"--close to two hundred head--by the Mimbres Pass--the boys are ce'tainly pushing the drive--out of danger by midnight--wait for the signal before you turn him loose----"
"So-long, Mr. Keller. I cayn't spare the time to stay longer with you," their owner jeered.
"Just a moment, Mr. Healy. I want to know why you are keeping me here."
The man grinned. "Am I keeping you here, seh? Looks to me like it was Brad that's a-keeping you. Make a break for a getaway, and I'll not do a thing to you. Course I cayn't promise what Brad won't do. He's such a plumb anxious host."
"You're his brains. What you tell him to do he does. I hold you responsible for this!"
"You don't say!"
"And right now I'll add, for all the devilment that has been going on in these parts for years. You've about reached the end of your rope, though."
"I'll bet dollars to doughnuts you reach the end of one inside of forty-eight hours, Mr. Rustler," flashed back Healy.
And with an evil, significant grin he was gone. They heard the sound of retreating hoofs die in the distance.
But his visit had told the prisoner two things. A hurried wholesale drive of rustled cattle was being made across the line into Sonora, and it was being done in such a way as to fasten the suspicion of it upon the nester who had not appeared at the dance and had not been seen since that time. The irony of the thing was superb in its audacity. Healy and his friends would get the profit from the stolen cattle, and they would visit the punishment for the crime upon him. Evidence would be cooked up of course, and the retribution would be so swift that his friends would not be able to save him. This time his enemy would take no chances. He would be wiped out like a troublesome insect. The thing was diabolic in the simplicity of its cleverness.