“Ranger, what'll you do with him?” Lawson queried, as if uncertain, now the capture was made. “I'll see to that,” replied Duane, and he pushed Snecker in front of him out into the court. Duane had suddenly conceived the idea of taking Snecker before Mayor Longstreth in the court. When Duane arrived at the hall where court was held there were other men there, a dozen or more, and all seemed excited; evidently, news of Duane had preceded him. Longstreth sat at a table up on a platform. Near him sat a thick-set grizzled man, with deep eyes, and this was Hanford Owens, county judge. To the right stood a tall, angular, yellow-faced fellow with a drooping sandy mustache. Conspicuous on his vest was a huge silver shield. This was Gorsech, one of Longstreth's sheriffs. There were four other men whom Duane knew by sight, several whose faces were familiar, and half a dozen strangers, all dusty horsemen. Longstreth pounded hard on the table to be heard. Mayor or not, he was unable at once to quell the excitement. Gradually, however, it subsided, and from the last few utterances before quiet was restored Duane gathered that he had intruded upon some kind of a meeting in the hall. “What'd you break in here for,” demanded Longstreth. “Isn't this the court? Aren't you the Mayor of Fairdale?” interrogated Duane. His voice was clear and loud, almost piercing. “Yes,” replied Longstreth. Like flint he seemed, yet Duane felt his intense interest. “I've arrested a criminal,” said Duane. “Arrested a criminal!” ejaculated Longstreth. “You? Who're you?” “I'm a ranger,” replied Duane. A significant silence ensued. “I charge Snecker with assault on Laramie and attempted robbery--if not murder. He's had a shady past here, as this court will know if it keeps a record.” “What's this I hear about you, Bo? Get up and speak for yourself,” said Longstreth, gruffly. Snecker got up, not without a furtive glance at Duane, and he had shuffled forward a few steps toward the Mayor. He had an evil front, but not the boldness even of a rustler. “It ain't so, Longstreth,” he began, loudly. “I went in Laramie's place fer grub. Some feller I never seen before come in from the hall an' hit Laramie an' wrestled him on the floor. I went out. Then this big ranger chased me an' fetched me here. I didn't do nothin'. This ranger's hankerin' to arrest somebody. Thet's my hunch, Longstreth.” Longstreth said something in an undertone to Judge Owens, and that worthy nodded his great bushy head. “Bo, you're discharged,” said Longstreth, bluntly. “Now the rest of you clear out of here.”