o the hut.

"Awake, Bann?" he asked in a low voice.

The answer was unexpected. Something heavy struck his chest and flung
him back against the wall. Before he could recover his balance he was
pinioned fast. Four men had hurled themselves upon him.

"We've got you, Jim. Not a mite o' use resisting," counseled the
sheriff.

"Think I don't savez that? I can take a hint when a whole Methodist
church falls on me. Who are y'u, anyhow?"

"Somebody light a lantern," ordered Burns.

By the dim light it cast Mac made them out, and saw Ned Bannister gagged
and handcuffed on the bed. He knew a moment of surprise when his eyes
fell on Reddy.

"So it was y'u brought them here, Red?" he said quietly.

Contrary to his own expectations, the gentleman named was embarrassed
"The sheriff, he summoned me to serve," was his lame defense.

"And so y'u threw down your friends. Good boy!"

"A man's got to back the law up, ain't he?"

Mac turned his shoulder on him rather pointedly. "There isn't any need
of keeping that gag in my friend's mouth any longer," he suggested to
Burns.

"That's right, too. Take it out, boys. I got to do my duty, but I don't
aim to make any gentleman more uncomfortable than I can help. I want
everything to be pleasant all round."

"I'm right glad to hear that, Burns, because my friend isn't fit to
travel. Y'u can take me back and leave him out here with a guard," the
foreman replied quickly.

"Sorry I can't accommodate you, Jim, but I got to take y'u both with
me."

"Those are the orders of the King, are they?"

Burns flushed darkly. "It ain't going to do you any good to talk that
way. You know mighty well this here man with you is Bannister. I ain't
going to take no chances on losing him now I've got my hand on him."

"Y'u ce'tainly deserve a re-election, and I'll bet y'u get it all right.
Any man so given over to duty, so plumb loaded down to the hocks with
conscience as y'u, will surely come back with a big majority next
November."

"I ain't askin' for YOUR vote, Mac."

"Oh, y'u don't need votes. Just get the King to O. K. your nomination
and y'u'll win in a walk."

"My friend, y'u better mind your own business. Far as I can make out y'u
got troubles enough of your own," retorted the nettled sheriff.

"Y'u don't need to tell me that, Tom Burns' Y'u ain't a man--nothing but
a stuffed skin worked by a string. When that miscreant Bannister pulls
the string y'u jump. He's jerked it now, so y