hat the gloom vanished,
and a rapidly rising excitement took its place. All eyes were at once
turned upon the window, and Smallbones again tasted the sweets of
public prominence.

"Say," he cried, "he's comin' right here. The nerve of it. I 'lows
it's up to us to get busy. I say he's a cattle-thief, an'----"

But Jake turned on him furiously.

"Shut your ugly face," he cried, "or--or I'll break it."

The baker's threat was effective. Smallbones relapsed into moody
silence, his beady eyes watching with the others the coming of the
horseman. As Jim drew near they backed from the window. But they lost
nothing of his movements. They watched him hitch his horse to the
tying-post. They watched him thoughtfully loosen his cinchas. They saw
that he had a roll of blankets at the cantle of his saddle, and
saddle-bags at its sides. They saw, also, that he was armed liberally.
A pair of guns on his saddle, and one attached to the cartridge belt
about his hips. Each mind was speculating, and each mind was puzzled
at the man's apparent unconcern.

A moment later the swing doors parted, and Jim strode in. His dark
eyes flashed a swift glance about the dingy interior. He noted the
familiar faces, and very evident attitudes of unconcern. He knew at
once that his coming had been witnessed, and that, in all probability,
he had been well discussed. He was in no mood to mince matters, and
intended to test the public feeling at once. With a cheery "Howdy,"
which included everybody, he walked to the bar.

"Guess we'll all drink, Silas," he said cheerily, and laid a
five-dollar bill on the counter.

But, for once in his life, the saloon-keeper felt it would be
necessary to ask his customers what they would drink. This he did,
while Jim turned to Jake and the butcher, who happened to be standing
nearest to him.

"I've quit the 'AZ's,'" he said, with a light laugh. "Or p'r'aps I'd
best say McLagan's quit me. Say, I'm out on the war-path, chasing
cattle-rustlers," he went on, with a smile. "That bunch of cattle
coming in with my brand on 'em has set my name stinking some with Mac,
and I guess it's up to me to--disinfect it. Eh?"

His final ejaculation was made at Rocket. There were three glasses set
out on the counter, and the saloon-keeper was handing him his change.

"Three drinks," that worthy was explaining. "The rest o' the boys
don't guess they're thirsty."

Jim stiffened his back, and coldly glanced over the faces about him.