Jess didn't seem too sure himself. He lurched drunkenly to his feet, lowered his head, and took one step away from the wall. Curt caught him flush on the nose with a blow which started at the floor.

Jess had had enough. Blood gushed from his nose, and he backed off as rapidly as he could, stumbling over his own feet in his frantic haste to get away from Curt's fists.

Curt was in almost as bad shape, but he wouldn't quit. He backed Jess into a corner, grabbed a handful of the man's shirtfront, and drew back his right fist.

``Tell me about Arbuckle! You killed him, didn't you?''

``It was Brenner's idea,'' Jess mumbled, dabbing at his nose. ``He found out about you and Arbuckle talking. He wanted to show the town what happened to anyone who tried to start trouble.''

``You mean anyone who stood up for his rights,'' Curt said. He let go of the shirt, and Jess slumped to the floor. Turning his back, Curt crossed to the stall, reached over to untie the buckskin's halter rope, and waved his hand in the animal's face.

The buckskin bolted out of the stall. Curt moved in and picked up his gun. He shook loose straw out of the action, and placed the gun in his holster. Leaving Jess's where it lay, he left the stall.

``Get up, Crouch. We're going someplace.''

Jess painfully got to his feet as someone rattled the door.

``Who's in there?'' Black called fearfully.

Curt opened the door, grabbed Black by the shoulder, and pulled him into the barn.