The Night Riders

"And do you mean to say there is no law to protect people on these outlying stations? Do you mean to tell me that men sit down quietly under such dastardly tyranny?" His questions were more particularly directed toward Shaky.

"Law?" replied the carpenter. "Law? Say, we don't rec'nize no law around these parts--not yet. Mebbe it's comin', but--I 'lows ther's jest one law at present, an' that we mostly carries on us. Oh, Jake Harnach's met his match 'fore now. But 'tain't frekent. Yes, Jake's a big swine, wi' the muscle o' two men; but I've seen him git downed, and not a hund'ed mile from wher' we're settin'. Say, Ike," he turned to the man behind the bar, "you ain't like to fergit the night Black Anton called his 'hand.' Ther' ain't no bluff to Anton. When he gits to the bizness end of a gun it's best to get your thumbs up sudden."

The saloon-keeper nodded. "Guess there's one man who's got Jake's measure, an' that's Black An