d throw you out! Do you hear me!"

Bill crossed his legs, pushed back his sombrero, turned the page carefully
and then remarked, "I licked four husky cow-punchers, real bad men, last
month. One right after the other, and I was purty near all in, too." He
glanced at the next page disinterestedly, spat at a fly on the edge of
the box cuspidor and then added wearily and with great deprecation, "I'm
feeling fine to-day, never felt so good in my life, but I need more
exercise--I'm two pounds over weight right now."

The clerk showed interest and awe: "Weight?" he asked. "What is your
fighting weight?"

Bill looked up aggressively: "Fighting weight?" he asked, raising his
eyebrows. "My _fighting_ weight is something over nine hundred pounds,
when I'm real mad. Ordinarily, one hundred and eighty. Why?"

"Oh, nothing," replied the clerk, staring out of the window.

CHAPTER XIX

THE ORPHAN GOES TO THE A-Y

The A-Y had been a very busy place for the past two weeks because of the
cattle which had to be re-branded and taken care of, and of other things
which had to be done about the ranch. The sheriff had taken title and
had persuaded Crawford to remain in nominal charge for a month at the
most so as to keep the sale a secret until the new owner would be ready to
make it known. So word went around that Crawford had hired the sheriff to
put things on a paying basis and that half of the old outfit had left,
their places being filled by Charley, the two Larkin brothers and two
men from a northern ranch.

Shields had been very much pleased with the cattle which The Orphan
had bought for him and had asked Blake if he could borrow the new
puncher to help him get things in good running shape. Blake had told The
Orphan of the sheriff's request and had advised him to accept, which the
puncher was very glad to do. So this is how the former outlaw became
temporary foreman of the A-Y under the sheriff. Only the sheriff's most
intimate friends knew his plans, one of whom was Charley Winter, who
found food for mirth in the unique position things had taken. The
sheriff's deputies who had lain out-doors all night on the Cross Bar-8
waiting to capture or kill the outlaw were now working under him, and
the best of feelings prevailed. The man who had hunted The Orphan now
employed him as the bearer of the responsibilities of the new ranch.
Truly, a change!

While The Orphan was busy with his duties on the A-Y the sheriff rode to
th