of him."

Buck's men moved closer to him, preparing to draw their guns, if need
be, and open fire on Jack's defenders.

"Look out, boss!" warned Sage-brush, at the hostile movement of Buck
and his punchers.

"Hold on!" drawled the Sheriff, who, as the danger grew more real,
became more deliberate in his movements. "They ain't goin' to be
nothin' done here unless it's done in the law--you all know me,
boys--I'm the sheriff--this man's my prisoner." Pointing to Jack, he
added: "There ain't nobody goin' to take him from me--an' live."

Buck saw Jack slipping from his clutches. "You're not goin' to be
bluffed by one man, are you, boys?"

"No," his punchers answered in unison, crowding toward Jack, who held
up his hand and cried: "Stop! I want a fair deal, and I'll get it."

"I'll settle this thing all right. All I ask is a few words alone with
my wife."

Jack clasped Echo to his breast as he begged this boon from the men who
sought his life.

"No!" blustered Buck.

"Yes," ordered Slim quietly but emphatically. "Payson--you'll give me
your word you won't try to escape?"

"Yes," agreed Jack.

"His word don't go with us," shouted Buck.

Slim laid his hand on the butt of his revolver, ready to draw, if
necessary, to enforce his command. Buck saw the movement, and shouted
to him: "Keep your hand away from that gun, Sheriff. You know I am
quick on the draw." He significantly fingered his holster as he spoke.

"So I've heard tell," agreed Slim, hastily withdrawing his hand from
his revolver.

Slim appeared to agree to the surrender of Jack to Buck and his
punchers, permitting them to deal with him as they saw fit. He fumbled
in his left-hand waistcoat pocket, pulling out a bag of tobacco and a
package of rice paper. Ostentatiously he began to roll a cigarette.
Then, with the quickness of a cat, his left hand was plunged in the
inside right-hand pocket of his waistcoat. Grasping a revolver by the
muzzle he deftly jerked it upward, and seized the handle in its flight.
He covered Buck McKee before that worthy realized what had happened.
With his right hand Slim pulled the weapon which swung at his hip, and
aimed it at the other boys of the Lazy K. The guns moved up and down
the line, backed by the Sheriff's usually mild blue eyes, coldly steady
now at the call to battle.

"I'll give you a lesson in pullin' guns, though," he declared, his
voice as steady as his hands. "Don't move, Buck," he warned,