t they wouldn't sell
me any gas." The raconteur allowed an interval for the astonishing
news to be absorbed. "No sir, not a spoonful would they sell me. They
wanted to give it to me--by the tankful. And after I told my news of
the gangster's finish and the complications incident thereto, Maddy
and the Carters insisted that I take all the gas--that I come up here
with the news, and the problem, and work out the solution.

"You see, I was over to Northgate Saturday on the matter of trading
some bucks with Andy Pelser and encountered the astonishing news that
the whole gangster mob, those that stole Maddy's dust, were in jail.
They had been arrested, and convicted, on about all the crimes in the
book. Reckless driving, drunkeness, inciting a riot, possessing stolen
property, and finally contempt of court, when they offered Judge
Withers, Maddy's two sacks of dust if he would let 'em off. On this
last charge the Judge added four months in jail. It was a grand finish
of an awful mess.

"I went over to the country seat to verify the news. It was no mere
rumor, it was a fact. Sheriff Bill White had 'em all in hock; had the
two bags of gold dust and their guns. He wants to get rid of the dust
if he can find the true owner, and get a disclaimer of ownership from
the gangsters. I told him it was Maddy's, and Bill wants Maddy to come
and prove ownership and take the property. Maddy is willing, but
there's a hitch to it. Just now, I want to see Mr. Gillis, or you
Landy, and unhitch the hitch."

"Well, Jim is up at Pinnacle Pint helpin' Welborn scrape the bottom of
the canyon fer what dust he can find, en I'm shore busy gittin' this
youngster acquainted with his new hoss," said Landy thoughtfully. "But
we ort to take time out to recover Maddy's property. Let's go up to
the canyon en sign Jim up fer the job. That dust up in the canyon
won't run away. It will still be thar even if Jim knocks off work fer
a couple a days."

The young visitor readily concurred in the plan, he wanted to see the
house that the gangster had built anyhow. He started out to the car,
but was detained by Landy. "You wait here," the veteran cautioned, "ye
might git a bullet through yer windshield if ye drive up thar
unannounced. My podner here and I will saddle up and ride ahead, to
prevent accidents."

Following his equestrian escort, the visitor presently reached the
Point where introductions were made and the purpose of the visit
explained. Jim asked