he plaza. As he faced
the saloon once more he heard a command to throw up his hands and saw
the glint of a gun, held by a man who wore the insignia of sheriff.
Hopalong complied, but as his hands went up two spurts of fire shot
forth and the sheriff dropped his weapon, reeled and sat down. Hopalong
rode over to him and swinging down, picked up the gun and looked the
officer over.

"Shoo, yu'll be all right soon--yore only plugged in th' arms," he
remarked as he glanced up the street. Shadowy forms were gliding from
cover to cover and he immediately caused consternation among them by
his accuracy. "Ain't it sad?" He complained to the wounded man. "I never
starts out but what somebody makes me shoot 'em. Came down here to see
a girl an' find she's married. Then when I moves on peaceable--like her
husband makes me hit him. Then I wants a drink an' he goes an' fans a
knife at me, an' me just teachin' him how! Then yu has to come along an'
make more trouble".

"Now look at them fools over there," he said, pointing at a dark shadow
some fifty paces off. "They're pattin' their backs because I don't
see 'em, an' if I hurts them they'll git mad. Guess I'll make 'em dust
along," he added, shooting into the spot. A howl went up and two men ran
away at top speed.

The sheriff nodded his sympathy and spoke. "I reckons you had better
give up. You can't get away. Every house, every corner and shadow holds
a man. You are a brave man, but, as you say, unfortunate. Better help me
up and come with me--they'll tear you to pieces."

"Shore I'll help yu up--I ain't got no grudge against nobody. But my
friends know where I am an' they'll come down here an' raise a ruction
if I don't show up. So, if it's all th' same to you, I'll be ambling
right along," he said as he helped the sheriff to his feet.

"Have you any objections to telling me your name?" Asked the sheriff as
he looked himself over.

"None whatever," answered Hopalong heartily. "I'm Hopalong Cassidy of
th' Bar 20, Texas."

"You don't surprise me--I've heard of you," replied the sheriff wearily.
"You are the man who killed Tamale Jose, whom I hunted for unceasingly.
I found him when you had left and I got the reward. Come again some
time and I'll divide with you; two hundred and fifty dollars," he added
craftily.

"I shore will, but I don't want no money," replied Hopalong as he turned
away. "Adios, senor," he called back.

"Adios," replied the sheriff as he kicked a