You see, that was back in the days before Dan busted loose.

When he was about the range most usually he was the quietest man I ever sat opposite to barrin' one--and that was a feller that went west with a bum heart at the chuck table! Ha, ha, ha!" The marshal's laughter boomed through the big room as he recalled this delightful anecdote.

He went on: "But after that Jim Silent play we all changed our minds, some.

D'you know, doc, I was in Elkhead the night that Dan got our Lee Haines ?" "I've never heard of the episode," murmured the doctor.
"You ain't?
Well, I be damned!--askin' your pardon, Kate----But you sure ain't lived in these parts long! Which you wouldn't think one man could ride into a whole town, go to the jail, knock out two guards that was proved men, take the keys, unlock the irons off'n the man he wanted, saddle a hoss, and ride through a whole town--full of folks that was shootin' at him.

Now, would you think that was possible ?" "Certainly not." "And it _ain't_ possible, I'm here to state.