Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 50: what you’re looking at

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keenly at Cameron. ~ along with him?” 520) wagons, buckboards were wheeling away amid dust that swirled in clouds. Horses bearing riders were cavorting around the square, headed for the open country that lay calm and serene around Ransome; citizens of the town who had been drawn to the courthouse had vanished. _- The square had been magically cleared. With the exception of Ballantine, who was now moving toward a pinto horse hitched to a rail in front of the courthouse, the square was-as empty and green and quiet as it had been when Cameron had seen it the first time, that morning. Ballantine ‘appeared as out of place as if he were walking down Broadway, in New = _ York. He was like an ancient masterpiece “in a modern frame. Picturesque he was, to be sure, and the romance of other days seemed to be in the atmosphere around him, and yet he im- pressed Cameron as being pathetically futile because he represented a dying day whose sun would rise no more. Rugged as he was, arrogant and inflexible, the splendid fellow would have to bow to the i inevitable. Cameron entered the bank. -He approached a window, arranged for the transfer of some funds, and was walk- ing out, when Fancher emerged from a doorway and recognized him. Fancher ex- tended a hand and smiled broadly. “My name is Fancher,” he said. “I didn’t get this opportunity last night. The way you handled Gideon Strong rather took my breath away. After sleeping upon the incident I am convinced that what you did to Strong was for the good of his soul. But Strong is @ man I wouldn’t care to antag- onize. The law isn’t as strong here as it might be.” ““ T’ve noticed that.” “You mean you visited the courthouse this morning,” said Fancher. “I’ve al- ready heard about it. What do you think of Ballantine?” ‘“ He is a remarkable man.” “Um-m,” said Fancher. He glanced “ Think you'll get - “TF hope to.” _ * Well, by George, I wish you luck! But Ballantine is a hard man to handle. I ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY: happen to know that he was right about that man Nelson lying about Ben Baxter, for Judge Gray had the inside dope on that deal. He would have discharged Baxter. That’s all right. But it’s the idea of any man usurping the power of the court that disturbs me.” “It sets a bad precedent,” admitted Cameron. “ But what would you have done if you had been-in Judge Gray’s place?” Fancher flushed. ‘‘ I suppose I'd have done just as Judge Gray did.” Cameron wouldn’t, but he didn’t say so. While he rather admired Ballantine for his courage in openly and arbitrarily directing the release of the accused man, he felt some contempt for Judge Gray’s weakness. After talking with Fancher for a few minutes, Cameron walked down the street toward his hotel. — He was convinced that the people of Ransome were afraid of Ballantine; that they were awed by his guns, by his reputa- tion. As a matter of fact, Ransome had just given a demonstration of its fear, and one enterprising citizen — F ancher—had just admitted that, like Judge Gray, he _ would have lacked the moral and the physi- eal courage to defend the laws. Cameron was more than half convinced that Ballan- tine was aware of Ransome’s fear of him and was taking advantage of it while per- haps secretly laughing at Ransome. Cameron again,visited the station, to find that his trunk had not yet atrived. When he reached the veranda in front of the hotel he observed a pinto horse hitched to the rack at the edge of the board sidewalk aba. skirted the veranda. Also, he saw Ballantine himself sitting on the railing at the western end of the veranda. Ballantine was talking with half a dozen men who stood in front of him. The men were strangers to Cameron, with the exception of the proprietor of the hotel, who saw him as he stepped upon the veran~ da, and nodded te him. ‘Cameron crossed the veranda, went in- - side, purchased some cigars, filled his case, lit one, and strode to the door. Ballantine interested him. Reluctantly Cameron admitted that he impressed him. Ol COMIC OOOKS (E@)