"Why, sure!" agreed the latter, his gaze level as his eyes met the sheriff's, his voice even and sarcastic. "But I'm tellin' you that this man's my friend an' if there's any more of them compliments goin' to be handed around I'm warnin' you that you want to hand them out soft an'

gentle like. That's all. I reckon we c'n now proceed."

The sheriff's face bloated poisonously. He flashed a malignant glance at Hollis. "Well," he snapped, "what's the charge?"

"I have already told you," returned Hollis. "It is stealing cattle."

"How stealin' them?" demanded the Sheriff truculenty.

"Changing the brand," Hollis informed him. He related how Ace and Weary had come upon the prisoner while the latter was engaged in changing his brand to the Circle Cross.

"They see him brandin'?" questioned the sheriff when Hollis had concluded.

Hollis told him that the two men had come upon Greasy after the brand had been applied, but that the cattle bore the Circle Bar ear-mark, and that Greasy had built a fire and that branding irons had been found in his possession--which which he had tried to hide when discovered by the Circle Bar men.

"Then your men didn't really see him doin' the brandin'?" questioned Watkins.

Hollis was forced to admit that they had not. Watkins smiled sarcastically.

"I reckon you're runnin' a little bit wild," he remarked. "Some of your stock has been rebranded an' you're chargin' a certain man with doin'

it--only you didn't see him doin' it." He turned to Greasy. "What you got to say about this, Greasy?" he demanded.

Greasy grinned blandly at Hollis. "This guy's talkin' through his hat,"

he sneered. "I ain't allowin' that I branded any of his cattle."

Watkins smiled. "There don't seem to be nothin' to this case a-tall--not a-tall. There ain't n.o.body goin' to be took into custody by me for stealin' cattle unless they're ketched with the goods--an' that ain't been proved so far." He turned to Hollis. "You got anything more to say about it?" he demanded.

"Only this," returned Hollis slowly and evenly, "I have brought this man here. I charge him with stealing my cattle. To use your term--he was caught 'with the goods.' He is guilty. If you take him into custody and bring him to trial I shall have two witnesses there to prove what I have already told you. If you do not take him into custody, it is perfectly plain that you are deliberately shielding him--that you are making a joke of the law."

Watkins's face reddened angrily. "Mebbe I'm makin' a joke of it----" he began.

"Of course we can't force you to arrest this man," resumed Hollis, interrupting Watkins. "Unfortunately the government has not yet awakened to the fact that such men as you are a public menace and danger. I did not expect you to arrest him--I tell you that frankly. I merely brought him here to see whether it were true that you were leagued with Dunlavey against the other ranchers in the country. You are, of course.

Therefore, as we cannot secure justice by appealing to you we will be forced to adopt other means."

The sheriff's right hand dropped to his gun-holster. He sneered, his lips writhing. "Mebbe you mean----" he began.

"I ain't lettin' this here situation get beyond my control," came Norton's voice, cold and even, as his six-shooter came out and was shoved menacingly forward. "Whatever he means, Watkins, he's my friend an' you ain't runnin' in no cold lead proposition on him." He smiled mirthlessly.

Watkins's face paled; his right hand fell away from the pistol holster.

There was a sound at the door; it swung suddenly open and Dunlavey's gigantic frame loomed ma.s.sively in the opening.

"I'm looking for Greasy!" he announced in a soft, silky voice, looking around at the four men with a comprehending, appreciative smile. "I was expecting to find him here," he added as his gaze sought out the prisoner, "after I heard that he'd been nabbed by the Circle Bar men."

Norton smiled coldly. "He's here, Bill," he said evenly. "He's stayin'

here till Mr. Hollis says it's time for him to go."

He did not move the weapon in his hand, but a certain glint in his eyes told Dunlavey that the pistol was not in his hand for mere show. The latter smiled knowingly.

"I'm not interfering with the law," he said mockingly. "And I certainly ain't bucking your game, Norton." He turned to Watkins, speaking with broad insinuation: "Of course you are putting a charge against Greasy, Watkins?" he said.

They all caught the sheriff's flush; all saw the guilty embarra.s.sment in his eyes as he answered that he had not. Dunlavey turned to Hollis with a bland smile.

"Have you any objection to allowing Greasy to go now, Mr. Hollis?"

Hollis's smile was no less bland as his gaze met Dunlavey's. "Not the slightest objection, Mr. Dunlavey," he returned. "I congratulate you upon the manner in which you have trained your servants!" He ignored Dunlavey and smiled at Norton. "Mr. Norton," he said with polite mockery, "I feel certain that you agree with me that we have no wish to contaminate this temple of justice with our presence."

He bowed with mock politeness as he strode to the door and stepped down into the street. Norton followed him, grinning, though he did not sheath his weapon until he also was in the street.

As they strode away from the door they turned to see Dunlavey looking out after them, his face wreathed in a broad smile.

"There is plenty of law in Union County, Mr. Hollis," he said, "if you know how to handle it!"

CHAPTER XX

THE "KICKER'S" CANDIDATE

The next issue of the _Kicker_ contained many things of interest to its readers. Now that the drought had been broken, Union County could proceed with its business of raising cattle without fear of any future lack of water, with plenty of gra.s.s, and no losses except those from the usual causes. Dry Bottom merchants--depending upon the cattlemen for their trade--breathed easier and predicted a good year in spite of the drought. Their worries over, they had plenty of time--and inclination--to discuss the _Kicker_.

More advertis.e.m.e.nts were appearing in the paper. Dry Bottom merchants were beginning to realize that it deserved their support, and with few exceptions they openly began to voice their opinions that the editor would "make good."' The advertis.e.m.e.nts began to take on a livelier tone and the Lazette _Eagle_ grew more sarcastic.

When the _Kicker_ appeared following the incident in the sheriff's office, there was a detailed account of Dunlavey's now famous "ten day edict," together with some uncomplimentary comments upon the latter's action. This was signed by Hollis. He called attention to Dunlavey's selfishness, to the preparations that had been made by him to shoot down all the foreign cattle on the Rabbit-Ear. He made no reference to his part in the affair--to his decision to allow the small ranchers to water their cattle in the river at the imminent risk of losing his own. But though he did not mention this, the small owners and his friends took care that the matter received full publicity, with the result that Hollis was kept busy a.s.suring his admirers that the incident had been much magnified--especially his part of it. Then his friends applauded his modesty.

In the same issue of the paper was also related the story of Greasy's capture by the Circle Bar men. But in telling this story Hollis was not so modest, for he spoke frankly of his part in it--how he had refused to allow his men to hang the thief, telling his readers that though Greasy deserved hanging, he did not purpose to violate the law while advocating it. Following the story of the capture was a detailed report of the incident in the sheriff's office and a scathing commentary upon the subservience of the latter official to Dunlavey's will. The article was ent.i.tled: "Handling the Law," and Dunlavey's exact words when he stood in the door of the sheriff's office as Hollis and Norton departed were repeated.

Below this, under the rubric, "Union County Needs a New Sheriff,"

appeared an article that created a sensation. This dwelt upon the necessity of the county having a sheriff who would not permit his office to be prost.i.tuted by any man or influence. The _Kicker_ named a man who would not be bribed or cowed and declared that his name would appear on the ballot at the next election--to be held on the first Monday in November. At the end of the article he printed the man's name--Ben Allen!

He had made this announcement without authority, and therefore he was not surprised, soon after the appearance of the issue containing the article, to see Allen's tall figure darken the door of the _Kicker_ office while he sat at his desk.

"Durn your hide!" cried the latter as he stood in the doorway; "you're the biggest disturber in seven states!"

"Perhaps," smiled Hollis, motioning Allen to a chair. "Still, you don't need to thank me. You see, I have decided to clean up this county and I need some help. I supposed you were interested. Of course you may refuse if you like."

"Refuse!" Allen's eyes flashed as he took Hollis's hand and wrung it heartily. "My boy," he declared earnestly, "you couldn't have done anything to suit me better. I'm just yearning to take a big hand in this game!"

"Interesting, isn't it?" smiled Hollis.

"Some," returned Allen. He grasped Hollis's hand and wrung it heartily.

"You're a winner and I'm mighty glad to be able to work with you." He spoke seriously. "Do you think there's a chance for us to beat Dunlavey?"

Hollis laughed. "I flatter myself that a certain editor in this town stands rather well with the people of this county since a certain thing happened."

"You sure do!" grinned Allen. "Lordy! how this county has needed a man like you!"

Hollis smiled. "Then you won't object to being the _Kicker's_ candidate?" he inquired.