ocused on Moran.

"There's just one way out of this mess, Race," he began. "Now heed what
I say to you. I'm going to send a telegram to the Department of the
Interior which will bring a troop of cavalry down here from Fort
Mackenzie. You must go slow from now on, and let the authorities settle
the whole matter."

The agent sat up alertly, as his employer, wagging a ponderous
forefinger impressively, proceeded.

"You were not on the ranch for the purpose of jumping it at all. Mind
that now! You and I stand for the majesty of the law in this lawless
community." Moran's eyes began to twinkle at this, but he said nothing.
"When you and Sheriff Thomas went out to the ranch, you carried two
warrants with you, one for Santry, as the accessory, and one for Wade,
as the principal, in the Jensen shooting. Yes, yes, I know what you are
going to say; but I must save my own bacon now. Since Wade has proved
himself to be a lawbreaker, I'm not going to protect him."

"Now, you're talking!" exclaimed Moran, delighted at the prospect of
what such a course would start going.

"I'll have the matter of the warrants fixed up with Thomas," the Senator
continued. "Now, follow me carefully. Thomas arrested Santry at the
ranch, and then left you, as his deputy, to serve the other warrant on
Wade when he came home. It was because of his knowledge of what was in
store for him that Wade, after getting Santry out of jail, attacked you
and your men, and it was in defense of the law that you returned their
fire. It will all work out very smoothly, I think, and any further
hostilities will come from the other side and be to our great
advantage."

Moran looked at his employer in admiration, as the latter concluded and
turned toward his writing table.

"Senator," the agent declared, as Rexhill took up his fountain pen and
began to write on a telegraph form, "you never should have started in
Denver. If you'd been born in little old New York, you'd be in the White
House now. From this minute on you and I are going to carry this whole
valley in our vest-pockets."

"You take this over and put it on the wire right away, Race. It's to the
Secretary of the Interior and my signature on it should get immediate
attention." Senator Rexhill handed over the telegraph form he had
filled out.

"But what about State rights in this business?" Moran asked, anxiously.
"Will they send Government troops in here on your say so?"

The Senator waved his hand in di