ld of that paper if possible."

"I reckon that will be easy, Washburn," returned the head cowboy. "I'm
armed, you know, and I'll take my chances against those two rascals any
time. Just follow me."

Without waiting for Allen to reply to this, Andy Rawlinson ran forward
swiftly and silently, and in a few seconds had confronted the rascally
pair. He had drawn his pistol, but he did not raise the weapon.

"Halt, both of you!" he cried, sharply. "Hands up there!"

"Hi! what's the meaning of this?" cried Levine, in astonishment. "Who
are you?"

"It's Rawlinson, the head man here," muttered the man called Jim.

"Right!" answered the cowboy. "And here is a particular friend of yours,
Levine," he added, as Allen stepped closer.

"Washburn!" muttered the rascally lawyer from Gold Run. And then he
added quickly: "Have you been spying on us?"

"If we have, that's our affair," answered Allen coolly. "You'd better
keep those hands up," he went on quickly, as he saw the two rascals
making a move as if to start something.

"They'll keep 'em up all right enough," broke in Rawlinson. "I reckon
you know me," he went on sternly. "And I'll stand for no foolin'."

"We haven't been doing anything wrong," came from Levine, lamely.

"Oh, no! Of course not!" said Allen sarcastically. "Only trying to get
hold of a bonanza for next to nothing!"

"Wait a minute, Washburn," came from the head cowboy. "Just relieve 'em
of their weapons first. Then maybe we'll be able to talk with more
satisfaction."

With Rawlinson confronting them, Levine and his companion did not dare
offer any resistance, and quickly Allen took their weapons from them and
handed the firearms to Rawlinson.

"Now I'll thank you, Levine, for that paper you were examining so
carefully just a few minutes ago," went on the young lawyer.

"This is robbery!" fumed Peter Levine. "I'll have you before the courts
for this."

Allen eyed him steadily.

"Do you represent the law in this place?" he asked. "If so, I am sorry
for the inhabitants. But there is no use in prolonging this discussion,
Levine. I want that paper. Hand it over at once."

The rascally lawyer from Gold Run attempted to argue, but the sight of
Rawlinson's weapon subdued him, and presently he handed over the
crumpled sheet, which Allen seized with much satisfaction. During this
transaction Jim remained sullenly silent.

"Now I guess that's about all," said Allen to the cowboy.

"If that's the case I