ords came in gasps. Every breath was drawn in pain.

"We'd ought to pinch yuh," the sergeant said by way of reprimand.
"Think yuh can come to New York and pull your small-town stuff on us?
We'll show youse. If yuh wasn't alfalfa green I'd give yuh a ride."

"You mean if Durand hadn't whispered in yore ear. I'll call that
bluff, sheriff. Take me to yore calaboose. I've got one or two things
to tell the judge about this guy Durand."

The officer dropped his grumbling complaint to a whisper. "Whisht,
bye. Take a straight tip from a man that knows. Beat it out of town.
Get where the long arm of--of a friend of ours--can't reach yuh. Yuh
may be a straight guy, but that won't help yuh. Yuh'll be framed the
same as if yuh was a greengoods man or a gopher or a porch-climber.
He's a revingeful inemy if ever there was wan."

"You mean that Durand--"

"I'm not namin' names," the officer interrupted doggedly. "I'm tellin'
yuh somethin' for your good. Take it or leave it."

"Thanks, I'll leave it. This is a free country, and no man livin' can
drive me away," answered Clay promptly. "Ouch, I'm sore. Give me a
lift, sergeant."

They helped the cowpuncher to his feet. He took a limping step or two.
Every move was torture to his outraged flesh.

"Can you get me a taxi? That is, if you're sure you don't want me in
yore calaboose," the range-rider said, leaning against the wall.

"We'll let yuh go this time."

"Much obliged--to Mr. Jerry Durand. Tell him for me that maybe I'll
meet up with him again sometime--and hand him my thanks personal for
this first-class wallopin'." From the bruised, bleeding face there
beamed again the smile indomitable, the grin still gay and winning.
Physically he had been badly beaten, but in spirit he was still the man
on horseback.

Presently he eased himself into a taxi as comfortably as he could.
"Home, James," he said jauntily.

"Where?" asked the driver.

"The nearest hospital," explained Clay. "I'm goin' to let the doctors
worry over me for a while. Much obliged to both of you gentlemen. I
always did like the Irish. Friend Jerry is an exception."

The officers watched the cab disappear. The sergeant spoke the comment
that was in the mind of them both.

"He's the best single-barreled sport that iver I met in this man's
town. Not a whimper out of the guy and him mauled to a pulp. Game as
they come. Did youse see that spark o' the divvle in his eye, and him
not