Sam Leach had lived in Sun Dog County about four years and had prospered in his cattle buying. For nearly two years he had held office as a commissioner and had proved himself a capable man, although his disposition had gained him few friends. He knew the cattle business well, having been a cowboy, cattle-raiser, and previous to his coming to Sun Dog he had been a range detective. He lived alone in a little house on the outskirts of Silverton, but spent a great part of his time in riding over the range, looking at the stock. As Leach went down the street, Bill Grant came out of the livery-stable, where he had just left his horse, and crossed over to Leach. Jimmy McKeever, the stableman, had told Grant of how Brick had saved Baldy Malloy’s youngster. “Hello,” greeted Grant, “I guess I showed up too late to see the fun, eh? Did you see Brick ride the grizzly?” “No, I didn’t see it,” replied Leach a trifle sullenly. “Wish I had,” laughed Grant. “Jimmy tells me that it was worth seein’. Brick’s got plenty of nerve.” “Yes, that’s a cinch.” “Hear anythin’ more from that detective, Sam?” “Not a word. But that don’t bother me. Santel said he’d be here as soon as he could make the trip, and he’ll be here.” “Good man, eh?” reflectively. “Yuh know we’re kinda leavin’ this up to you, Sam. I know that Brick didn’t like the idea, and I don’t know that I do. I had a talk with Hendricks——” “Want me to send him back?” queried Leach, “——, I thought you fellows——” “No, we’ll let him go ahead, Sam. If he cleans up this gang, it will be fine. Still, I wonder if Brick——” Two men were coming from McGill’s saloon and Grant stopped with his question unasked. It was two of the men who had been there when Baldy had knocked McGill down. They were Bud Keller and Ed Smeed, two cowboys from over in the Smoky Hills. “Did you fellers see it?” asked Keller, laughing. “No, we got here too late,” replied Grant. “Brick must have made a good ride.” “Oh, not that,” laughed Smeed. “We didn’t see that either. We meant, did yuh see Baldy Malloy knock McGill down?” “Eh?” grunted Leach. “Knock McGill down?” “Uh-huh. Baldy was comin’ past, packin’ his kid, when McGill asked Baldy what was goin’ on up the street. Yuh see, we was all playin’ poker and didn’t know anythin’ unusual was goin’ on, until we hears the shots. “Baldy was kinda excited and his eyes was like saucers, when he tells us how Brick saved his kid’s life. Anyway, McGill makes a remark about Brick tryin’ to make a hero out of himself, and then Baldy almost ruins McGill’s nose. Honest to gosh, he laid McGill stiff.” “And,” added Smeed, “if yuh meet Baldy, don’t say nothin’ ag’in Brick Davidson. I never knowed that that fat stage-driver had that kind of a wallop. Whoo-ee! He sure caressed McGill.” Grant laughed widely. He did not like McGill. But Leach did not see anything humorous in the incident. “What did McGill do?” asked Leach.