only got what they was
trying to hand me. But I'm a whole lot sorry about the sheep, although I
can't say I'm dead stuck on range-killers of any kind."

The sheriff reflectively eyed his companion's gun and remembered its
celerity into getting into action, which persuaded him that The Orphan
was telling the truth, and swept aside the last chance for fair warfare
between the two for the day.

"Yes, it is too bad, all them innocent sheep drowned that way," he slowly
replied. "But they are shore awful skittish at times. Well, do we part?"
he asked, suddenly holding out his hand.

"I reckon we do, Sheriff, and I'm blamed glad to have met you," replied
the outlaw as he shook hands with no uncertain grip. "Keep away from them
Apaches, and so long."

"Thanks, I will," responded the arm of the law. "And I'm glad to have met
you, too. So long!"

CHAPTER IV

THE SECOND OFFENSE

Bill Howland emerged from the six-by-six office of the F. S. and S. Stage
Company and strolled down the street to where his Concord stood. He
hitched up and, after examining the harness, gained his seat, gathered up
the lines and yelled. There was a lurch and a rumble, and Bill turned
the corner on two wheels to the gratification of sundry stray dogs,
whose gratification turned to yelps of surprise and pain as the driver
neatly flecked bits of hair from their bodies with his sixteen foot
"blacksnake." Twice each week Bill drove his Concord around the same
corner on the same two wheels and flecked bits of hair from stray dogs
with the same whip. He would have been deeply grieved if the supply of new
stray dogs gave out, for no dogs were ever known to get close enough
to be skinned the second time; once was enough, and those which had felt
the sting of Bill's leather were content to stand across the street and
create the necessary excitement to urge the new arrivals forward. The
local wit is reported as saying: "Dogs may come and dogs may go, but Bill
goes on forever," which saying pleased Bill greatly.

As he threw the mail bag on the seat the sheriff came up and watched him,
his eyes a-twinkle with humor.

"Well, Sheriff, how's the boy?" genially asked Bill, who could talk all
day on anything and two days on nothing without fatigue.

"All right, Bill, thank you," the sheriff replied. "I hope you are able
to take something more than liquid nourishment," he added.

"Oh, you trust me for that, Sheriff. When my appetite gives out I'll be