nearby door for assistance.

The cow-pony tied itself up in knots as it pounded down the street
toward the trail, and although he was fired on he swung into the dusty
trail with a song on his lips. Several hours later he stood dripping wet
on the American side of the Rio Grande and shouted advice to a score of
Mexican cavalrymen on the opposite bank. Then he slowly picked his way
toward El Paso for a game at Faro Dan's.

The sheriff sat in his easy chair one night some three weeks later,
gravely engaged in rolling a cigarette. His arms were practically well,
the wounds being in the fleshy parts. He was a philosopher and was
disposed to take things easy, which accounted for his being in his
official position for fifteen years. A gentleman at the core, he was
well educated and had visited a goodly portion of the world. A book of
Horace lay open on his knees and on the table at his side lay a shining
new revolver, Hopalong having carried off his former weapon. He read
aloud several lines and in reaching for a light for his cigarette
noticed the new six-shooter. His mind leaped from Horace to Hopalong,
and he smiled grimly at the latter's promise to call.

Glancing up, his eyes fell on a poster which conveyed the information in
Spanish and in English that there was offered

+--------------------------------------+
| | FIVE HUNDRED PESOS | |

REWARD

For Hopalong Cassidy, of the Ranch

| | Known as the Bar-20, Texas, U. S. A. | |

+--------------------------------------+

and which gave a good description of that gentleman.

Sighing for the five hundred, he again took up his book and was lost in
its pages when he heard a knock, rather low and timid. Wearily laying
aside his reading, he strode to the door, expecting to hear a lengthy
complaint from one of his townsmen. As he threw the door wide open the
light streamed out and lighted up a revolver and behind it the beaming
face of a cowboy, who grinned.

"Well, I'll be damned!" ejaculated the sheriff, starting back in
amazement.

"Don't say that, sheriff; you've got lots of time to reform," replied a
humorous voice. "How's th' wings?"

"Almost well: you were considerate," responded the sheriff. "Let's go
in--somebody might see me out here an' get into trouble," suggested the
visitor, placing his foot on the sill.

"Certainly--pardon my discourtesy," said the sheriff. "You see, I
wasn't expecting you