ng myself," retorted
de Spain.

"But it is a thing to be managed," persisted Lefever. "Now,
suppose--since the topic is up--we 'show' in Main Street for a
while."

"Suppose we do," echoed de Spain ungraciously.

"That will crack the debut ice. We will call at Harry Tenison's hotel,
and then go to his new rooms--go right to society headquarters
first--that's my theory of doing it. If anybody has any shooting in
mind, Tenison's is a quiet and orderly place. And if a man declines to
eat anybody up at Tenison's, we put him down, Henry, as not ravenously
hungry."

"One man I would like to see is that sheriff, Druel, who let Sassoon
get out."

"Ready to interview him now?"

"I've got some telegrams to answer."

"Those will keep. The Morgans are in town. We'll start out and find
somebody."

It was wet and sloppy outside, but Lefever was indifferent to the
rain, and de Spain thought it would be undignified to complain of it.

When, followed by Lefever, he walked into the lobby of Tenison's hotel
a few moments later the office was empty. Nevertheless, the news of
the appearance of Sassoon's captor spread. The two sauntered into the
billiard-hall, which occupied a deep room adjoining the office and
opened with large plate-glass windows on Main Street. Every table was
in use. A fringe of spectators in the chairs, ostensibly watching the
pool games, turned their eyes toward de Spain--those that recognized
him distinguishing him by nods and whispers to others.

Among several groups of men standing before the long bar, one party of
four near the front end likewise engaged the interest of those keener
loafers who were capable of foreseeing situations. These men,
Satterlee Morgan, the cattleman; Bull Page, one of his cowboys;
Sheriff Druel, and Judge Druel, his brother, had been drinking
together. They did not see Lefever and his companion as the two came
in through the rear lobby door. But Lefever, on catching sight of
them, welcomed his opportunity. Walking directly forward, he laid his
hand on Satt Morgan's shoulder. As the cattleman turned, Lefever,
genially grasping his hand, introduced de Spain to each of the party
in turn. What followed in the brief interval between the meeting of
the six men and the sudden breaking up of the group a few moments
later was never clearly known, but a fairly conclusive theory of it
was afterward accepted by Sleepy Cat.

Morgan threw the brim of his weather-beaten hat back from his t