rame over Laramie and beside himself with rage. Then
spurring his horse, he wheeled it around to rejoin Van Horn.

Even then Laramie was too quick for him. Almost in the very instant,
he jumped his own pony after the angry man and gaining the head of
Doubleday's horse, caught the bridle and jerked the beast almost to its
haunches.

It was a ticklish instant. Van Horn, with his hand on his revolver,
attempted to spur to Doubleday's assistance. Lefever interposed with a
sharp move that put him plumply in front of Van Horn: "Not till them
two are through, Harry. We stay right here till them two's done."

The very impudence of Laramie's move had taken Doubleday by surprise
and Laramie was hurling angry words at him before Lefever had
intervened: "Hold on, Doubleday," Laramie said bluntly, "you can't put
your abuse all over me first and then run away with it. You'll hear
what I've got to say. I rode this range before you ever saw it; I'll
ride this range when you're gone. I was born here, Doubleday; my
father lived here before me. The air I breathe, this sky over my head,
this ground under my feet, are mine, and I stick here in spite of you
and your cattle crooks. If men run off your cattle it's your sheriff's
business--you own him. And it's your business to run 'em down--not
mine. You come here without a warrant, without a definite complaint,
and ask me to turn an old man over to a bunch of lynchers! Not on your
life. Not today or any other day."

Doubleday interrupted, but he was forced to listen: "You talk about
thieves," Laramie spoke fast and remorselessly, "and you belong to the
bunch that's tried to steal every foot of land I own in the Falling
Wall. After you and your lawyers and land office tools have stolen
thousands of acres from the government, you talk as if you were an
angel out of heaven about the men that brand your mavericks. Hell!"
The scorn of the expletive drew from the very depths of furious
contempt. "I'd rather stand by a thief that calls himself a thief,
than a thief that steals under a lawyer. Send your hired men after me;
give 'em plenty of ammunition. They'll find me right here, Barb--right
here where I live."

CHAPTER XX

THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

When Sawdy rode into Sleepy Cat next morning it was known that he had
come from the Reservation and he was besieged for news from the Falling
Wall. At Kitchen's, where he put up his horse; on his way up street to
his room ov