truggling against an unknown force. She put up a
hand and tried to dislodge his fingers on her shoulder, but could
not.

Presently she wet her lips and looked around the street, already
filled with watching folk, then up at Kenset.

"What for?" she asked.

"I think I can tell you something," he answered quietly.

"All right," she said briefly, "let go an' I'll come."

Without a word the man loosed her. She went to El Rey and mounted.

Her riders mounted with her, Billy's face frowning and set. From the
steps of Baston's store a few cowboys watched. There were no
Stronghold men in town, for it was too early in the day.

In silence Kenset led out of town at a brisk canter. His lips were
set, his eyes very grave.

In the short gallop that followed while they cleared the skirts of the
town, he did some swift thinking, settled some heavy questions for
himself.

He was about to take a decided step, to put himself on record in
something that did not concern his work in the Valley.

He was going directly opposite to the teaching of his craft. He was
about to take sides in this thing, when he had laid down for himself
rigid lines of non-partisanship. His mind was working swiftly.

If he flung himself and his knowledge of the outside world and the law
into this thing he sunk abruptly the thing for which he had come to
Lost Valley--the middle course, the influence for order that he had
hoped to establish that he might do his work for the Government.

But he could not help it. At any or all costs he must stop this
blue-eyed girl from riding north to challenge Courtrey on his
doorstep.

The blood congealed about his heart at the thought.

Where the rolling levels came up to the confines of the town they rode
out far enough to be safe from eavesdroppers, halted and faced each
other.

"Miss Last," said Kenset gently, "I'm a stranger to you. I have little
or no influence with you, but I beg you to listen to me. You say there
is no help for the conditions existing in Lost Valley. That outrage
follows outrage. True. I grant the thing is appalling. But there is
redress. There is a law above the sheriff, when it can be proven that
that officer has refused to do his duty. That law is invested in the
coroner. Your coroner can arrest your sheriff. He can investigate a
murder--he can issue a warrant and serve it anywhere in the State. He
can subpoena witnesses. Did you know that?"

Tharon shook her head.

"Nor you?" he a