“Welcome, stranger!� a sardonic voice exclaimed.
At that moment the moon slid from behind a cloud, lighting the scene with its pale glow. And, like some vision of the night, motionless and tense, a horseman sat facing Roy. The man’s head was turned slightly to the right, and on the left cheek Roy saw a deep scar.
CHAPTER XIX
ESCAPE
It was not fright that held Roy motionless, but a realization of the hopelessness of resistance. A slight tightening of the crooked finger that touched the trigger would send a ball of lead tearing through his body, and at the short range there could be but one result. It seemed best to Roy that he bide his time.
“Nice of you to call on me like this,� Gilly Froud went on, in that sinister, mocking tone. “An’ I begs you’ll excuse the looks of the place. We ain’t quite ready to receive visitors, yet.�
“What did you do with our horses and with Bug Eye’s flivver?� Roy asked, looking straight at the man.
This Froud was no weakling. He sat hunched over in his saddle, huge shoulders bent forward. The arm which supported the gun wavered not an inch, but held firm as a rock.
“Don’t start askin’ questions,� Froud growled. “It won’t do you no good, ’cause I don’t know nothin’ about yore hosses. I heard you had ’em stolen from the hitchin’ rail at Eagles. Well, any one who’s fool enough to leave a hoss unguarded in that town, should have him stolen!�
“That’s a lie, Froud, and you know it!â€� Roy said hotly. “They’d never have been touched if it hadn’t been for you—and that pal of yours in the checkered shirt.â€�
“Hey? What’s that?� Froud exclaimed in a startled voice. The muzzle of the gun pointed downward for a moment, but Froud quickly brought it to bear again upon the boy. “What do you know about a man in a checkered shirt? Speak up!�