"I didn't know this was a fiesta, Alvarez. What's up with you people?" he asked of one he met on the street. "The fiesta is to be to-night, eh?" the man laughed. "Have you this engineer locked up yet?" "What engineer?" "The killer, the gun-man, that Weir. It is said he is already arrested and is to be hanged from the big cottonwood at dark beside the jail. It is also said he is still loose and bringing five hundred workmen to burn the town, rob the bank, kill the men and steal the girls." "If he is to do either, it's news to me," Madden said, and proceeded to the office of Lucerio, the county attorney. Madden was a blunt man, who for policy's sake might close his eyes to unimportant political influence as exercised by the Sorenson crowd. But he was no mere compliant tool. This was his first term in office. He had never yet crossed swords with the cattleman and the others associated with him, because the occasion had never arisen. When he had allowed himself to be nominated for sheriff, though Sorenson might imagine Madden to be at his orders, the latter had accepted the office with certain well-defined ideas of his duty. "What do you want of me?" he asked Lucerio, for whom he had little liking. "I desire to tell you, Madden, that at eight o'clock I'll have a warrant for you to serve on the engineer Weir. You'll go to the dam and arrest him and bring him in to the jail." "Well, apparently the whole country except me knew this was to happen. The town's filling up as if it were going to be a bull-fight." "I know nothing of that." "All right; give me the warrant." "At eight o'clock. I don't want it served before then." "Why?" "I have my reasons." "Sorenson? And Vorse and Burkhardt? They've stirred up this charge against the man." Lucerio making an angry answer, he continued. "Well, everybody knows you jump when they pull the string. I'll have to serve the warrant, naturally. But I'm going to tell you what I think: you've faked the evidence you've got; we had the truth from Martinez and Janet Hosmer at the inquest; you're trying to railroad Weir to the gallows." "Mr. Sorenson shall know what you've said. As for me"--the Mexican swelled with outraged dignity--"the evidence was placed in my hands. It warrants the engineer's arrest and trial. You attend to your department and I'll attend to mine." "All to the good, Mr. County Attorney. I'll arrest him; he won't make me any trouble on that score. But you won't find it so easy to prove his guilt. And afterwards, just look out, for if he doesn't come gunning for you and fill your carcass full of lead, I miss my guess. You won't be able to hide behind Sorenson, either." He left the county attorney at that, the latter unable despite all his efforts to hide his uneasiness and alarm. Madden reaching the street looked at his watch; it was half past five, so he started home for supper.