the jail the running boards of
his car were jammed with inquisitive citizens, and those who could not
find footing thereon followed at a run, laughing, shouting, acclaiming
him and jeering at his prisoners.

Having surrendered custody of the latter, he dressed their eyes once
more and explained the sort of care they required, then he made an
appeal from the front steps of the jail, adjuring the mob to disperse
quietly and permit the law to take its course.

Nothing like this had occurred during the brief, busy life of the town.
It was a dramatic incident, but the manner in which this capable
stranger had handled it and the discomfiture he had brought upon his
assailants appealed more to the risibilities than to the anger of
Ranger. Admiration for him displaced indignation at the high-jackers;
cries for vengeance upon them were drowned in noisy appreciation of
their captor. Gray became a popular character; men clamored to shake
his hand, and complimented him upon his nerve. The editor of the local
newspaper dragged him, protesting, to the office and there interviewed
him. Gray was covered with confusion. Reluctantly he made known his
identity, and retold the whole story of his trip, this time beginning
at his meeting with Coverly in Dallas. He displayed the bewildering
contents of his sample case, now guarded by a uniformed arm of the law,
and explained how he had volunteered his services out of pure love of
adventure, then how he had played into Mallow's hands while aware of
his malign purpose at all times.

This was more than a local story; it was big enough for the wire. Gray
sat at the editor's elbow while that enthusiastic gentleman called
Dallas and gave it to the papers there.

He was escorted to the railroad station by an admiring crowd; he was
cheered as he passed, smiling, into his Pullman car.

CHAPTER VII

Coverly was at the station when Gray's train arrived at Dallas the next
morning. He was suffering intense excitement, and he deluged his friend
with a flood of questions, meanwhile flourishing the morning papers,
all of which appeared to have devoted much space to the Ranger episode.
He hugged Gray, and he pumped his hand; he laughed and he chattered; he
insisted upon hearing the whole story without delay. On their way
uptown, the returning hero gave it to him, together with Gus Briskow's
check.

At the size of the latter Coverly gasped. "Didn't I say you were a good
salesman? And Mallow! You g