avel.

"Order in the co'teroom," he thundered, and there was order. Moreover,
before the eyes of all those straining sight-seers, Opdyke glanced at
the two men who composed his bodyguard and read a wilting spirit in
their faces. He sank down into his chair, beaten, and knowing it, and
when the sheriff laid a hand on his shoulder, he rose without protest
and left his pistols lying where he had so belligerently slammed them
down. His henchmen offered no word or gesture of protest. They had seen
the strength of the tidal wave which they had hoped to outface, and they
realized the futility of any effort at armed resistance.

* * * * *

It was when he had ridden home from the county seat after attending that
session of the County Court, that Parish Thornton found Bas Rowlett
smoking a pipe on his doorstep.

That was not a surprising thing, for Bas came often and maintained
flawlessly the pose of amity he had chosen to assume. In his complex
make-up paradoxes of character met and mingled, and it was possible for
him, despite his bitter memories of failure and humiliation, to smile
with just the proper nicety of unrestraint and cordiality.

Behind the visitor in the door stood Dorothy with a plate and dish towel
in her hand, and she was laughing.

"Howdy, Parish," drawled Bas, without rising, as the householder came up
and smiled at his wife. "How did matters come out over thar at co'te?"

"They come out with right gay success," responded the other, and in his
manner, too, there was just the proper admixture of casualness and
established friendship. "Sam Opdyke is sulterin' in ther jail-house
now."

"Thet's a God's blessin'," commended Bas, and then as Dorothy went back
to the kitchen Parish lifted his brows and inquired quietly, "Ye war
over hyar yistiddy an' the day afore, warn't ye, Bas?"

The other nodded and laughed with a shade of taunt in his voice.

"Yes. Hit pleasures me ter drap in whar I always gits me sich an
old-time welcome."

"Did ye aim ter stay an' eat ye some dinner?"

"I 'lowed I mout--ef so be I got asked."

"Well ye gits asked ter go on home, Bas. I'm askin' ye now--an'
hereatter ye needn't bother yoreself ter be quite so neighbourly. Hit
mout mek talk ef ye stayed away altogether--but stay away a heap more
than what ye've been doin'."

The other rose with a darkening face.

"Does ye aim ter dictate ter me not only when an' whar's we fights our
battles at,