It was to go boldy into the saloon, ask for the rustler, first pretend I had a reply from Morton and then, when I had Snecker's ear, whisper a message supposedly from Sampson.

If Snecker was too keen to be decoyed I could at least surprise him off his guard and kill him, then run for my horse.

The plan seemed clever to me.

I had only one thing to fear, and that was a possibility of the rustlers having seen my part in Steele's defense the other day.
That had to be risked.

There were always some kind of risks to be faced.
It was scarcely a block and a half to the Hope So.