en he
had allowed himself to be nominated for sheriff, though Sorenson might
imagine Madden to be at his orders, the latter had accepted the office
with certain well-defined ideas of his duty.

"What do you want of me?" he asked Lucerio, for whom he had little
liking.

"I desire to tell you, Madden, that at eight o'clock I'll have a
warrant for you to serve on the engineer Weir. You'll go to the dam
and arrest him and bring him in to the jail."

"Well, apparently the whole country except me knew this was to happen.
The town's filling up as if it were going to be a bull-fight."

"I know nothing of that."

"All right; give me the warrant."

"At eight o'clock. I don't want it served before then."

"Why?"

"I have my reasons."

"Sorenson? And Vorse and Burkhardt? They've stirred up this charge
against the man." Lucerio making an angry answer, he continued. "Well,
everybody knows you jump when they pull the string. I'll have to serve
the warrant, naturally. But I'm going to tell you what I think: you've
faked the evidence you've got; we had the truth from Martinez and
Janet Hosmer at the inquest; you're trying to railroad Weir to the
gallows."

"Mr. Sorenson shall know what you've said. As for me"--the Mexican
swelled with outraged dignity--"the evidence was placed in my hands.
It warrants the engineer's arrest and trial. You attend to your
department and I'll attend to mine."

"All to the good, Mr. County Attorney. I'll arrest him; he won't make
me any trouble on that score. But you won't find it so easy to prove
his guilt. And afterwards, just look out, for if he doesn't come
gunning for you and fill your carcass full of lead, I miss my guess.
You won't be able to hide behind Sorenson, either."

He left the county attorney at that, the latter unable despite all his
efforts to hide his uneasiness and alarm. Madden reaching the street
looked at his watch; it was half past five, so he started home for
supper.

Some way before him he saw Martinez walking. The lawyer did not stop
to converse with any of the loiterers along the street, but moved
steadily along. He had come out of Vorse's saloon and was going
towards his office. Just then the sound of an automobile caused Madden
to turn his head in time to see Weir speed along but stop with a
sudden application of brakes as he caught sight of the attorney.

A hail brought Martinez to the car. A few minutes' rapid speech there
followed. Then the lawyer mounted