ose they wanted
me to get out on the warpath so they could frame up some story about
self-defense. It looked bad for me, with three of them having their guns
on me, and Tex Williard had just given me an ultimatum and had counted
two, when, d----d if The Orphan didn't take a hand from up on the wall
of the defile. That let me get my guns out, and the rest was easy. We let
Bill get square on the gang for the beating he had got, by whipping
all of them to the queen's taste. When they got so they could stand up I
told them a few things and ordered them out of the country, and they were
blamed glad to get the chance to go, too.

"The Orphan didn't have to mix up in that, not at all, and it makes the
third time he's put his head in danger to help me or mine, and he took big
chances every time. How in h--l can I help liking him? Can I be blamed
for treating him white and square when he's done so much for me? He is so
chock full of grit and squareness that I'll throw up this job rather than
to go out after him for his past deeds, and I mean it, too, Tom."

Blake reached for another piece of pie, held his hand over it in
uncertainty and then, changing his mind, took gingerbread for a change.

"Well, I reckon you're right, Jim," he replied. "Anyhow, it don't make
a whole lot of difference whether you are or not. You're the sheriff of
this layout, and you're to do what you think best, and that's the idea
of most of the people out here, too. If you want to experiment, that's
your business, for you'll be the first to get bit if you're wrong. And
it ain't necessary to tell you that your friends will back you up in
anything you try. Personally, I am rather glad of what you're doing,
for I like that man's looks, as I said before, and he'll be just the kind
of a puncher I want. He's a man that'll fight like h--l for the man he
ties up to and who treats him square. If he ain't, I'm getting childish
in my judgment."

"I sent him to you," the sheriff continued, "because I wanted to get
him in with a good outfit and under a man who would be fair with him. I
knew that you would give him every chance in the world. And then Helen
takes such an interest in him, being young and sympathetic and romantic,
that I wanted to please her if I could, and I can. She'll be very much
pleased now that I've given him a start in the right direction and there
ain't nothing I can do for her that is not going to be done. She's a
blamed fine girl, Tom, as nice