cove, and I'm going to smoke 'em
out."

Mizzoo chewed, with a deprecatory shake of his head. "See here, old
tap," he murmured, "don't you say nothing about being Brick Willock's
friend. The whole country is roused against him. Heard of them three
bodies?"

Wilfred explained that he had just come to town.

"Well, good lord, then, the pleasure I'm going to have in telling you
something you don't know, and something that's full of meat! Let's go
wheres we can sit down--this ain't no standing news." The lank
red-faced sheriff started across the street without looking to see if
he were followed.

He did not stop till he was in his room at the hotel. "Now," he said,
locking the door, "sit down. Yes, you BET. I got a warrant against
Brick Willock! It was sworn out by a fellow named Jeremiah
Kimball--you know him as 'Red.' The form's regular, charges weighty.
Brick Willock was once a member of Red Kimball's gang; he's the only
one that didn't come in to get his amnesty. See? Well, he killed Red's
brother--shot 'im. Gledware's coming on to witness to it. Willock
will claim he done the deed to save Gledware's life--his and his little
gal's. But Gledware will show it was otherwise. Red told me all about
it. Brick's a murderer, and worst of all, he's a murderer without an
amnesty--that's the only difference between him and Red. Well, old
tap, I took my oath to do my duty. You know what that signifies."

"But there's no truth in all this rot. Brick HAD to shoot Kansas
Kimball--"

"Well, let him show that in court. My business is to take him alive.
That ain't all, that's just the preface. Listen! If you'll believe
me, the stage that Red and his pards was in--coming here to swear out
the warrant, they was--that there stage was set on by this friend of
yours--yes, Brick has gathered together some of his old pards and is a
highwayman--why, he shot one of Red's witnesses, and he shot the
driver!"

"I know something about that holdup," cried Wilfred scornfully. "It
must have been done by Indians."

"Red SAW Brick amongst the gang. He RECOGNIZED him. Well, Red and his
other pard gets on horses they cuts loose, and comes like lightning,
and gets here, and tells the story--and maybe you think this community
ain't a-rearing and a-charging and a-sniffing for blood! There'd be
more excitement against Brick Willock if there was more community, but
such as they is, is concentrated."

"Mizzoo, listen to reason.