The sheriff's mean and vicious spirit writhed within him. He hated Loudon, hated him for his cocksureness, for his easy fearlessness. He would have sold his soul to the devil in return for the ability to reach for his gun. The sheriff licked his lips. Loudon, still smiling, continued to hold aloft the gold piece. The onlookers--half of Farewell by this time--awaited the outcome in tense silence. Suddenly the sheriff shook his shoulders, spat on the sidewalk, wheeled, and entered the Happy Heart. Loudon flipped the gold piece into the air, caught it, and returned it to his vest-pocket. Without a glance at the keenly disappointed populace, he turned Ranger and loped to the Blue Pigeon Store. When he emerged, followed by the bawled "Good lucks!" of the proprietor, Captain Burr was waiting. The tin-peddler's face was grave but his steel-blue eyes were twinkling with suppressed merriment. "Well, suh----" chuckled the captain, when they were out of earshot of the Farewell citizens--"well, suh, you ce'tainly talked to that sheriff. Lord, Tom, it made me laugh. I didn't know that Block was so lacking in honah and spo'ting spirit. I fully expected to witness quite a ruction." "I wasn't lookin' for a fight," disclaimed Loudon. "I knowed Block wouldn't pull. It was safe as takin' pie from a baby." "I'm not so shuah," doubted Captain Burr. "Any reptile is mighty unce'tain. And this reptile had friends. I was watching them. My Spenceh seven-shooteh was ready fo' action. You Rob'et E. Lee hoss, pick up youah feet! Well, I'm glad it ended peacefully. My wife and daughteh, as I may have mentioned, do not approve of fighting. They cannot realize how necessa'y it becomes at times. It would be well, I think, when you reach the Bend, to refrain from mentioning my little disagreement with Rudd. My family might heah of it, and--but you unde'stand, don't you, Tom?" "'Course, I do, Cap'n," heartily concurred Loudon. "I won't say a word." "Thank you." Captain Burr fell silent. Suddenly he began to laugh. "Po' Farewell," he chuckled. "Theah will be some powdeh bu'nt befo' the day is out." "How?" "Block. His pride has had a fall. Quite a few saw the tumble. An o'dina'y man would tuck his tail between his legs and go elsewheah. But the sheriff is not an o'dina'y man. He's too mean. In order to reinstate himself in the affections of the townspeople he will feel compelled to shoot one of them. Mahk my wo'ds, theah will be trouble in the smoke fo' Farewell." "It can stand it. Outside o' Mike Flynn, an' Bill Lainey an' his wife, there ain't a decent two-legged party in the whole place." Captain Burr nodded and turned an appreciative eye on Ranger. "That chestnut hoss ce'tainly does please me," he said. "I wish I'd bought him myself. I do indeed." CHAPTER VII PARADISE BEND