Block and his friend involuntarily turned their heads. Framed in the open window were the head and shoulders of a man. In his hands was a sawed-off shotgun. The blunt muzzle gaped ominously at them. "Well, by Gawd!" began the scratch-faced man. "Shut up!" said Block. "These folks seem scared of us. No use fussin'. We'll just licker an' git." "Them's the words I like to hear," observed the landlord, slapping bottle and glasses on the bar. "Yuh can't pull out too quick to suit me, Block. I know about yore goin's-on down in Farewell--rubbin' out harmless strangers. Yuh may be a sheriff an' all that, but yore office don't travel a foot in Sunset County." "Yuh talk big," growled Block. "Yuh needn't think yuh can bluff me. If I feel like takin' this town apart, I'll do it." "Shore, just like yuh took the Bend apart. Got the molasses out o' yore system yet?" Block's eyes were fairly murderous. The landlord grinned. "That shotgun's double-barrelled," he observed. "Buckshot in each barrel." Block gulped his whisky. The scratch-faced man had finished his drink and was placidly rolling a cigarette. "Never did like to quarrel," he remarked, "special not with a shotgun. Mister"--to the landlord--"have any gents from the Bend rode in to-day--or yesterday?" "Lookin' for friends?" queried the landlord. "Shore!" "I thought so. Well, I can't tell yuh. Yuh see, I ain't right well acquainted hereabouts. I dunno everybody. There might somebody 'a' come through, an' then again there mightn't. I seed a Injun yest'day, though. Looked like a Digger. Might he be yore partic'lar friend?" An exquisite solicitude was in the landlord's tone. The other refused to take offence. He smiled wryly. When he spoke, his words were without rancour. "I can't claim the Injun. I was thinkin' of a sport named Loudon. Know him?" "I told yuh I didn't know many people round here." "I was just a-wonderin'. I was kind o' anxious to see Loudon." "Well, I dunno nothin' about him." "There was a man here named Loudon," piped up the drummer, perceiving an opportunity of annoying the landlord. "He stayed here all night. Another man was with him, a very dirty old character named Mackenzie. I think Scotty was his first name." "Which way did they go?" demanded Block. "They rode away toward Paradise Bend." "That drummer can lie faster'n a hoss can trot," drawled the landlord. "You know they stayed here all night," said the drummer with a flash of spirit. "I had breakfast with them." The landlord walked swiftly to the drummer, who quailed. "Yo're lyin'!" announced the landlord. "Say so. Say yo're lyin', yuh pup, or I'll pull yore neck in half." "I'm lyin'!" cried the drummer, hastily. "I'm lyin'." "There wasn't nobody here but you, was there?" inquired the landlord. "N-no." "I guess that's enough. You see how reliable this sport is, gents. Can't believe a word he says."