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right over with it, Miss Letty. Right away.”
    Then she was gone, shutting the door. There was a second of silence, during which the mean smile slowly spread over Tomlain’s face again. Looking at him, Saulter thought that he’d have no regret killing such a man. They stood facing, each with a hand on his pistol. Then the back door opened and Billy stepped in. Saulter caught a sidelong glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye. It made it worse, having a man that far off to one side.
    And Tomlain was saying, “Now, Mister Big Gun, you were just saying your good-byes.” He took another step.
    Saulter drew. But, before he could clear his gun, his arms were suddenly pinned from behind by Schmidt. In the confusion of the girl and Billy, he had slipped down the bar until he was right behind Saulter. That, Saulter thought as he struggled, was why Tomlain had been so cocky, so confident.
    There was nothing he could do in his weakened condition. Schmidt held him long enough for the other three men to rush up and smother him. They held him by the arms while Tomlain strolled up and planted himself right in front of Saulter. The grin was very big on his face now.
    â€œNow hold on, Tomlain,” Billy said. “Just take it easy.” He came up behind Tomlain.
    Tomlain said to Saulter, “Well, mister man, looks like you’ve got yourself all fouled in the riggin’. Guess it’s about time for you to get that little lesson you’ve had coming.”
    â€œDon’t kill him!” Billy said sharply. He put out a hand to stay Tomlain.
    The gunman turned and looked at Billy as if he were amazed. “Kill him? Why, I ain’t going to kill him! You done told me not to.” He turned back to Saulter and licked his lips, enjoying himself. “Course, he may die. But I ain’t going to kill him.”
    Without preamble he suddenly hit Saulter in the left side, in the wound, a thudding left and right, bowing his heavy shoulders and driving the blows in with all his strength. Air rushed out of Saulter’s lungs in a wailing sigh and all the color went out of his face. He sagged in the arms of the men holding him, passed out from the intense pain.
    â€œThere, rabbit trapper. There’s a little something for you.”
    â€œGoddammit!” Billy swore. He jerked at Tomlain’s arm. “You’ve killed him!”
    â€œOh, he ain’t dead. Are you, snake shooter?” He jerked Saulter’s head up by the hair and slapped his face, backhand and forehand.
    â€œGoddammit, leave him alone, Tomlain! You damned animal.”
    A little color was coming back into Saulter’s face. His legs took some of his weight as he tried to straighten.
    â€œUh, oh,” Tomlain said, “look out boys, here he comes again.” He let Saulter get fully erect and then timed two jolting left hooks into his damaged side again. Saulter collapsed.
    Billy grabbed Tomlain by the arm and slung him back across the room. “Stop it, dammit ! Or by god—”
    But Tomlain just laughed. “There he is, all ready for you. You can put him on his horse now and send him out of town. He’s ready to travel.”
    At the window the woman’s face was evident. She’d been staring in and had seen everything that happened. Now she went toward her house across the street, but stopped to watch as they brought Saulter out of the back of the saloon. He was being supported by two men with Billy leading the way. He was stumbling, his head down, barely able to walk. The men were mostly carrying him. The woman stood near the porch of her building, watching, as they boosted him up on his horse. Billy helped as best he could, to put Saulter’s boots in the stirrups. Finally one of the men untied the horse. They passed the reins up and put them in Saulter’s nearly nerveless hands.
    â€œNow get out of here!” one of the men yelled. He took off his hat and slapped the