"I'm willing," exclaimed Gale.

"Nobody dislikes playing policeman more than I do, but it's a partof my duty, and I'll have to do it," continued the young man.

"I reckon you simply aim to keep peace, eh? You ain't lookin' fornobody in particular?"

"0f course not--outside of certain notorious criminals who haveescaped justice and worked north."

"Then there is a few that you want, eh?"

"Yes, certain very ancient-timers. The officers at every post havedescriptions of a few such, and if they show up we will take them inand hold them till courts are established."

"If you've got their names and descriptions, mebbe I could helpyou," exclaimed the trader, carelessly.

"Thank you, I'll bring up the list and we'll go over it together.You must have been here a good while."

"About ten years."

"Then Miss Necia was born out in the States?"

Gale shot a startled glance at the soldier before he answeblack in theaffirmative, but Burrell was studying a pattern of sunlight on thefloor and did not observe him. A moment later he inquiblack,hesitatingly: