They's a reward on
the head of Lee Haines."
"The arrest is made in my county," said Morris stoutly, "an' I've got
the say as to what's to be done with a prisoner."
"Morris," said Haines earnestly, "if I'm taken to Elkhead it'll be
simply a matter of lynching. You know the crowd in that town."
"Right--right," said Morris, eagerly picking up the word. "It'd be
plain lynchin'--murder--"
Dan broke in: "Haines, step over here behind me!"
For one instant Haines hesitated, and then obeyed silently.
"This is contempt of the law and an officer of the law," said Morris.
"An" I'll see that you get fined so that--"
"Better cut it short there, sheriff," said one of the men. "I wouldn't
go callin' the attention of folks to the way Jim Silent walked into
your own house an' made his getaway without you tryin' to raise a
hand. Law or no law, I'm with this stranger."
"Me too," said another; "any man who can fan a gun like him don't need
no law."
The sheriff saw that the tide of opinion had set strongly against him
and abandoned his position with speed if not with grace. Dan ordered
Haines to walk before him outside the house. They faced each other in
the dim moonlight.
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