Hollis," he said, "shake hands with Mr. Allen, of Lazette."

Allen's hand came out quickly and was grasped by Hollis's, both grips
being hearty and warm.

"My name's Ben Allen," explained the stranger with a smile. "Tacking on
a handle like 'Mister' would sure make me feel like a stranger to
myself."

"We'll not quarrel about that," remarked the Judge with a smile; "we'll
call you Ben." He looked soberly at Hollis, continuing:

"Allen has been sent over here from Lazette to assist us in establishing
the law. He was formerly sheriff of Colfax County, having been defeated
by the Cattlemen's Association because he refused to become a party to
its schemes. On several occasions since severing his official connection
with Colfax County he has acted in a special capacity for the
government. He is an old acquaintance of the new Secretary of the
Interior and much trusted by him. He is to be the inquisitor mentioned
in the letter which I read in the presence of Dunlavey."

Hollis looked at Allen with a new interest. After noting again the
steady, serene eyes, narrowed always with a slight squint; the firm
straight lips, the well set jaws, Hollis mentally decided that the
Secretary of the Interior could not have made a better choice.
Certainly, if he had served as sheriff of Colfax County, he had had some
excellent experiences, for from reading the _Lazette Eagle_, Hollis had
acquired considerable knowledge of the character of the inhabitants of
Colfax. The editor of the _Eagle_ had many times felicitated himself upon
the fact that his town (Lazette) had not been built ten miles farther
east--in which case he would have been a resident of Union--and ashamed
of it.

"I think we need you," said Hollis simply. "But I imagine you will have
to concentrate your efforts upon one ranch only--the Circle Cross. If
you make Dunlavey bow to the law you may consider your work finished."

"I think Dunlavey will change his views of things shortly," remarked
Allen, quietly, but significantly. He smiled at Hollis. "I have read
your paper regularly," he said. "You've got the editor of our paper
hopping mad--with your claims about Dry Bottom being superior to
Lazette. Also, you've stirred up the Secretary of the Interior some. I
was called to Washington three weeks ago and invited to tell what I knew
of conditions out here. I didn't exaggerate when I told the Secretary
that hell was a more peaceful place for a law loving man to live in.
Thou