o."

Their friend looked back at Bud and grinned again as he rode away.

"Evidently thinks you're an amateur bad man," said Billee Dobb.
"You'll have a reputation in this town before you know it, Bud."

By this time they had reached the sheriff's office. All dismounted and
went in.

They found Hawkins seated in a chair talking to another man who was
leaning against the side wall gazing out of the window. The deputy
sprang to his feet as he saw the boys, the light of welcome in his eyes.

"Come in, boys, come in. Jerry, I'd like you to meet some new friends
of mine. This here is Bud Merkel. Over here is--er----"

"My cousins, Nort and Dick Shannon," finished Bud. "And Billee Dobb
and Yellin' Kid--if he ever had another name I've forgotten it, and I
guess he has too."

The deputy's friend laughed and Joe said:

"This is Jerry Adler, boys. Say, I thought you fellers were headed for
the Shootin' Star?"

"We were," Bud answered, "but something happened that we want to ask
you about."

"Guess I'll be goin'," said Jerry Adler. "I'll drop in to-morrow about
that matter, Joe. No hurry, you know."

"All right, Jerry. Glad to see you any time. Now, boys," and he
turned to the five standing near him, "what can I do for you? Or is it
just a friendly visit? If it is, I'm right glad you stopped in. Now
that you're here, you must come over to my place for supper. Got the
best cook you ever saw."

"Thanks, Mr. Hawkins," responded Bud. "We may take advantage of that
later. But just now we want to ask your advice."

"Go right to it, Bud. If I can help you I'll sure do it!"

"When we went over to the Shooting Star," Bud began, "we expected to
find a sheep ranch. Instead we find a place that could be used for
sheep, but certainly isn't now. We went in and showed our credentials,
and asked the occupant, who was called 'J. D.,' I think, if he could
move out by to-morrow, so we could get ready to move in.

"Whoever this 'J. D.' is, he isn't a cow puncher, nor a herder either.
He's dressed like a Chicago dude," stated Bud.

The deputy nodded understandingly. Evidently he was not surprised at
Bud's description of the Shooting Star and its tenant.

"Well, as I say, we asked him to leave. He not only refused, but
threatened trouble if we tried to put him out. Said he had twelve men
who'd help him, too. So we thought, if you'd give us a dispossess
notice, we could go up there with authority and if he sti