to find adequate words to express his sentiments. Gus
was quiet as usual, but he too showed relaxation from a severe ordeal.

"Well, let's get at it now," suggested Pan. "I'll start you boys on
it, then ride down to Mother's."

In the succeeding hour, leading to noon, what with sundry trips down to
the store, the trio learned some news that afforded much satisfaction.
Jim Blake had assaulted a guard and broken jail. No doubt he must have
had outside assistance. According to rumor Matthews accused Hurd, the
guard, of being party to the escape, and had discharged him. Sentiment
in town was not equally divided. Most everybody, according to the
informers, was glad Blake had escaped. It developed that the jail was
not a civic institution. Already there had been talk of the permanent
citizens getting together.

All this was exceedingly welcome to Pan. He could hardly wait till
noon to saddle the sorrel, to ride over to his mother's.

"Aw, cowboy, hug thet gurl fer me!" sang Blinky, with ecstatic upward
gaze. "Shore she's put the devil in you. An' this heah outfit is
steppin' high!"

On the way out to the farm, halfway beyond the outskirts of town, Pan
met his father rushing up the road. At sight of Pan he almost
collapsed.

"Just--heard--the news," he panted, as Pan reined in the sorrel.

"What news, Dad?" queried Pan, gazing down with both thrill and anxiety
at that haggard face, slowly warming out of its havoc.

"Bill Dolan an' his--boys--stopped at the ranch to--tell me," Smith,
wiping his clammy face. "They just left town.... Bill saw you take
that walk down main street."

"Well, what's that to be all set up about?"

"Reckon I was scared wild... Bill says to me, 'Bill, you oughtn't show
yellow like thet. You shore don't savvy thet boy of yours.' ... I
thought I did, son, but when it come to a showdown I was
chicken-hearted. Your comin' home was a Godsend to Mother an' Lucy.
An' more to me! Then to think you might get shot right off.... Wal,
it was too much for my stomach."

"Dad, I bluffed them--that's all. I braced them quick and hard, before
they could figure. It worked, and I believe I got most of the town
with me."

"Pan, is it true that you accused Jard Hardman of robbin' me--an' you
knocked him flat?"

"Sure it's true."

"Lord, but I'd like to have seen that," declared Smith vehemently.
"An' son, you got Jim Blake out of jail. Bill didn't hint you had
anythin' to do with tha