We watched the men who were not coming with us ride off to the southwest.

Then Coker turned to Charley, Chan, the Makepeace brothers, and me. "You boys ready to take off them stars?" he asked.

"I don't see as we can," I said. "We were deputized by Bat Masterson up in Denver."

Before Coker could respond, Charley jumped in. "Don't let this tin bother you none. We have no intention of puttin' them boys in the calaboose. We'd just as soon leave 'em garglin' on a rope as anything."

Then looking at Lopez, who had decided to ride out to Coker's camp with us before turning toward Las Vegas, Charley said, "Ain't that right, Sheriff?"

Lopez nodded slightly. "The law says even those cabrónes deserve a trial...

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