Roy Norton

“ If any one is to blame,” he added, with absolute fairness, “it is I; for I encouraged the situation, wishing to befriend him, to make it easier for him in any way I might; because, entirely aside of what I think of Tom, his father and I were friends—yes, that was it, friends! There were three of us, Josh Price, Bill Rogers, and I—and we were very loyal to one another—back there when we three were young. But, Edith, there are some things I cannot decide to tell you—yet—that make it almost out of the question.” ”

“ I tell you, my boy, that when those two take the trail together after Josh Price has strapped on his gun, some one is very apt to die. Now you can see that we've got to head them off—if we're not already too late. Josh is a fool. So is Specimen. It's about time they woke up and learned that the frontier days they knew are gone—that there is such a thing as law that does not permit a man to go out and shoot any one with whom he has had a big enough row. They don't congratulate the winner now ”

“ We must get over to Cash Vance's place as soon as possible. It may mean life or death for some one.”
Tom ordered the best horse obtainable brought at once, and rejoined them by the door as he pulled his coat over his arms.
“But if Josh was going to Vance's, why did he take Specimen?” he inquired thoughtfully.
“Because Specimen and Josh are old friends, and if Josh asked Specimen Jones to join him and fight an army, Specimen would grin, go with him, and stick to the finish. That's why! The very fact that they went away together proves that they're up to something pretty desperate!” ”