Hooker had sold out! Clarence turned hastily away.
"We don't know where he went," continued Gilroy grimly, "but I reckon you ain't over anxious to see him NOW.

And I kin tell ye something to ease your mind,--he didn't require much persuadin'.

And I kin tell ye another, if ye ain't above takin' advice from folks that don't pertend to give it," he added, with the same curious look of interest in his face.

"You've done well to get shut of him, and if you got shut of a few more of his kind that you trust to, you'd do better." As if to avoid noticing any angry reply from the young man, he reentered the cabin and shut the door behind him.

Clarence felt the uselessness of further parley, and rode away.
But Gilroy's Parthian arrow rankled as he rode.