ithout fear or favor, to gather in any who may attempt in
any way to interfere with the administration of justice."

To Helen it seemed as if the old, heroic West had spoken through this
fearless giant of other days. There was no mistaking the meaning that
ran through that quietly worded message. It brought the crowd up with a
thrill of apprehension, followed by honest shame. There was even a
ripple of applause. The crowd started once more to file out, but in
different mood. Some of the more impetuous, who had rushed downstairs
before the judge had spoken, were hustled away from the agent's
automobile, around which they had grouped themselves threateningly.

"The judge means business," one old-timer said in an awe-stricken voice.
"That's the way he looked and talked when he headed the Vigilantes'
court. He'll do what he says if he has to hang a dozen men."

When Lowell and Helen came out to the automobile, followed by Fire Bear,
the court-house square was almost deserted. Fire Bear climbed into the
back seat, at Lowell's direction. He was without manacles. Helen
occupied the seat beside the driver. As they drove away, she caught a
glimpse of Judge Garford coming down the court-house steps. He was
engaged in telling some bit of pioneer reminiscence--something broadly
pleasant. His face was smiling and his blue eyes were twinkling. He
looked almost as any grandparent might have looked going to join a
favorite grandchild at a park bench. Yet here was a man who had torn
aside the veil and permitted one glimpse at the old, inspiring West.

Helen turned and looked at him again, as, in an earlier era, she would
have looked at Lincoln.

CHAPTER VII

The stage station at White Lodge was a temporary center of public
interest every afternoon at three o'clock when Charley Hicks drove the
passenger bus in from Quaking-Asp Grove. After a due inspection of the
passengers the crowd always shifted immediately to the post-office to
await the distribution of mail.

A well-dressed, refined-looking woman of middle age was among the
passengers on the second day after the hearing of Fire Bear and Jim
McFann. She had little or nothing to say on the trip--perhaps for the
reason that speech would have been difficult on account of the
monopolizing of the conversation by the other passengers. These included
two women from White Lodge, one rancher from Antelope Mesa, and two
drummers who were going to call on White Lodge merchants. T