And then Hollis had died--suddenly. The Las Vegas doctor who had attended him had shaken his head sagely when the judge had questioned him regarding his patient and had pointed significantly to one of Dry Bottom's saloons. The doctor had told the judge there was no hope, and the latter had telegraphed East. The appearance of young Hollis had been the result. The judge's heart had warmed toward the young man. "What are your intentions regarding the newspaper--the _Kicker_?" he questioned. Hollis looked up quickly, his face grave. "Perhaps if there had been no _Kicker_ here my decision might have been different," he said. "But so long as it is here it is in business to stay!" "I expect that decision won't please Dunlavey a whole lot," the judge returned. "Perhaps not," drawled Hollis; "still, we can't aim to please everybody. I expect I might be able to get hold of that printer--Potter I believe you called him?" "Potter won't be hard to find," assured the judge; "a search of the saloons would uncover him, I imagine." He smiled. "When you get ready to get the _Kicker_ out just let me know; I promise to have Potter on hand." To the ears of the two men came a rattle of wheels and a voice. The judge leaned back in his chair and looked out through the window. His face wreathed into a broad smile as he resumed his former position and looked at Hollis. "Your range boss is here," he said. They heard a step on the board walk, and a man stood in the doorway looking at them. The newcomer gave an instant impression of capability. He stood on the threshold, entirely composed, saturnine, serene eyed, absolutely sure of himself. He was arrayed in high heeled boots, minus spurs; the bottoms of a pair of dust-covered overalls were tucked into the boot legs; a woolen shirt, open at the throat, covered a pair of admirable shoulders; a scarlet handkerchief was knotted around his neck; and a wide brimmed hat, carelessly dented in the crown, was shoved rakishly back from his forehead. Sagging from his slim waist was a well filled cartridge belt and at the right hip a heavy revolver. "Howdy, judge!" he said with a smile, in response to Judge Graney's cordial greeting. "Just come in?" questioned the judge. "Been in town an hour," returned Norton. He flashed a searching glance at Hollis, which that young man met steadily. The thought crossed Hollis's mind that the buckboard that he had seen in front of a store soon after leaving the station must have been Norton's. But now Norton was speaking again and Hollis listened. "Dropped into the Fashion to see my friend Red Eggers," resumed Norton, smiling broadly. "Same old crowd--Dunlavey, Yuma Ed, Ten Spot, Greasy--most of the bunch which has been makin' things interestin' for us hereabouts."