Max Brand

“ The rustler drew his breath in wonder. If ever a man had been changed, this was one.
"Look here," he said. "Let's talk straight. You want me to show you the way up to where Joe Daly is hanging out. Now, how can I tell that you ain't going to——"
"To what?" asked Pete. "D'you think that maybe I'll clean up Joe and his whole gang?"
The rustler laughed.
"Oh, that sure sounds foolish," he chuckled. "But——"
"What d'you think I would do then?"
Again the rustler pondered for a time.
"You've turned me loose," he said at last. "It sure looks like you were a friend of Joe's. I'll take the chance. ”

“ Heaven only grant that he might die like a man rather than shame himself! If only he could see the door by the light of the day, but this stifling blackness of the night—— He set his teeth and forced away the faintness. ”

“ There were many ways of inflicting the most exquisite tortures. One might light a match and hold it close to the flesh of a man who was so bound that he could not move.
Darkness swam before the eyes of the prisoner at the very thought. ”