in' me to keep my eye on him. The news of Reid's
killin' Matt Hall got over to Omaha. You know Reid, he's under
sentence of three years in the pen."

"I didn't know."

"Yeah. Daddy got him paroled to Sullivan's sheep ranch to serve it.
If he breaks over here he goes to the pen. That's the way _he_
stands."

"In that case, he'll more than likely stay it out."

"He will if he's wise. He's been a kind of a streak of wildness, the
sheriff in Omaha said. Sent me his full history, three pages. Married
somebody a year or so ago, but the old man got him out of that by
buyin' off the girl. Then he started out forgin', and pushed it so
hard the old man refused to make good any more. But he didn't want to
see the kid go to the pen, and he's here. I got to keep my eye on him
to see he don't break over."

The sheriff stretched out when he had finished his cigar and went to
sleep in a blanket provided by his host. He was up with dawn, ready to
resume his journey. Mackenzie pressed him to stay for breakfast, but
he said he wanted to make a start before the sun and reach Sullivan's
ranch-house.

"Does Sullivan know how things stand with Reid?" Mackenzie inquired.

"I reckon he must. If he don't he soon will. Kind of watch that
feller, will you, and slip me word if he shows any signs of streakin'
out of the country."

"No, I've got my eye full looking after two thousand sheep. That's up
to Sullivan, he's responsible for Reid."

The sheriff turned a sharp look of suspicion on Mackenzie, but said
nothing. He led his horse down to the little stream for water, and
came leading it back, a cast of disfavor in his face.

"You're a bad bunch up in here," he said, "you and Carlson and Hall.
If there's any more killin' and fightin' up this way I'll come in and
clean you all out. Where did you say that feller was at?"

Mackenzie told him again, and he rode off to take a look at Reid,
and put what caution into his ear he had a mind to give. Mackenzie
saw him blend into the gloom of early morning with a feeling of
self-felicitation on his act of yesterday. He was inspired yesterday
when he took Joan under his protection and laid claim to her in his
own right.

CHAPTER XVI

REID BEGINS HIS PLAY

Dad Frazer came back after five days, diminished in facial outline on
account of having submitted his stubble beard to the barber at Four
Corners. In reverse of all speculation on Mackenzie's part, this
operation did not improve th