willing to accept the word of the city police
that you were there raising the record for traffic trouble and not
moonshining at Black Butte. He doesn't approve of throwing dynamite at
people, but--well, I talked with the prosecuting attorney, too, and
they both seem to be mighty nice men and reasonable. I'm afraid Barney
Oakes will see his beautiful story all spoiled."

"He'll forget it when he feels the ruin to his face I'm goin' t' create
for him if I ever meet up with 'im again," Casey commented grimly.

"Babe sent you a pincushion she made in school. I think she made
beautiful, neat stitches in that C," went on the Little Woman in a
placid, gossipy tone invented especially for domestic conversation.
"And--oh, yes! There's a new laundryman on our route, and he PERSISTS
in running across the lawn and dumping the laundry in the front hall,
though I've told him and TOLD him to deliver it at the back. And
there's a new tenant in Number Six, and they hadn't been in more than
three days before he came home drunk and kept everybody in the house
awake, bellowing up and down the hall and abusing his wife and all. I
told him held have to go when his month is up, but he says he'll be
damned if he will. He says he won't and I can't make him."

"He won't, hey?" A familiar, pale glitter came into Casey's eyes. "You
watch and see whether he goes or not! He better tell Casey Ryan he
won't go! Who'd, they think's runnin' the place? Lemme ketch that
laundry driver oncet, runnin' across our lawn; I'll run 'im across
it--on his nose! They take advantage of you quick as my back's turned.
I'll learn 'em they got Casey Ryan to reckon with!"

The Little Woman gave me a smiling glance over Casey's shoulder, and
lowered a cautious eyelid. I left them then and went away to have a
satisfying talk with the sheriff and the prosecuting attorney.

CHAPTER EIGHT

In the desert, where roads are fewer and worse than they should be, a
man may travel wherever he can negotiate the rocks and sand, and none
may say him nay. If any man objects, the traveler is by custom
privileged to whip the objector if he is big enough, and afterwards go
on his way with the full approval of public opinion. He may blaze a
trail of his own, return that way a year later and find his trail an
established thoroughfare.

In the desert Casey gave trail to none nor asked reprisals if he
suffered most in a sudden meeting. In Los Angeles Casey was halted an