The Sheriff of Badger

thing of the sort appeared to trouble Buffalo Jim. A month previous he had left the Lazy L, scornful of cow work, vowin

d's face when he greeted Jim. He did it casually, and shook hands with Lafe and said that he was glad to see him. Then he gave Buffalo certain orders for the morrow, t

e his arrival as quite natural, which spared Lafe much confusion. He played with Tommy most of the time, and on the third day of his stay he sounded Floyd on the subject of a job. The boss had expected it, and su

Lafe, "I coul

ompromise might befit the weak, but Johnson was made of sterner stuff. No matter in what straits his mistakes

I've got a range boss already, and a top h

. I'll be

ater. Say, come up to the house. The missus wants you

sick since that weddin'. No, I reckon I'd

intimated that he would shortly have other deals to be put through. A message arrived, but not from the cattle buyer. The bearer came, he said,

Sheriff of Badger," he to

town a heap pleasanter for us. We'll f

lesser fry. Accordingly, their message was that the law-abiding residents of the town were desirous of securing Mr. Johnson's services; and would he come forthwith? To this Lafe answered that he would return to Badger

is persuaded he can obtain it only by strenuous effort. And masses are like individuals, in this respect. That was why, as Lafe approached the town, he met a small party of ho

-when I'm elected, you-all look alike to me. I won't

t's the ticket, Lafe. Well, let's

ct Mr. Haverty to have been guilty of some slight exaggeration. Still, there was ample evidence that Johnson could handle a gun, and nobody on the Border doubted his courage. Led by Turner, the respectable element voted for him as a unit. The others-the hard d

f of Badger. When made acquainted with the res

hank you for your support.

n the Cowboys' Rest, and there was considerable drinking. A dispute arose, and in the course of it the landlord laid

pulls a gun goes against me. Tommy, give me tha

utside. Then Johnson examined the injur

e along with me," h

it him." The landlord could hardly believe his ears. Ha

t to the judge. Come

ade a step forward and the landlord reached under the bar for his .45. Before he could raise it, Johnson gripped his wrist and with his free hand struck him over the head with the butt of

hat followed, some of them murmuring-"I'd arrest

protested, "this is

r here in Badger. Come on

bail for hi