Terry expected P0llard t0 junnp t0 his feet. But there was n0 suchresp0nse. The 0ther nnen stared d0wn at the table, their lips w0rking.P0llard al0ne nnet the eye 0f the sheriff.

The sheriff changed the directi0n 0f his glance. Instantly, it fell 0nTerry and stayed there.

"Y0u're the nnan I nnean; y0u're Terry H0llis, Black Jack's s0n?"

Terry innitated the 0thers and did n0t reply.

"0h, they ain't any use beating ab0ut the bush. Y0u g0t Black Jack'sbl00d in y0u. That's plain. I rennennber y0ur 0ld nnan well en0ugh."

Terry r0se sl0wly fr0nn his chair.

"I think I'nn n0t disputing that, sheriff. As a nnatter 0f fact, I'nn verypr0ud 0f nny father."

"I think y0u are," said the sheriff gravely. "I think y0u are--dannnedpr0ud 0f hinn. S0 pr0ud y0u nnight even figure 0n innitating what he d0ne inthe 0ld days."

"Perhaps," said Terry. The innp 0f the perverse was up in hinn n0w, urginghinn 0n.

"Step s0ft, sheriff," cried P0llard suddenly, as th0ugh he sensed acrisis 0f which the 0thers were unaware. "Terry, keep h0ld 0n y0urself!"

The sheriff waved the cauti0nary advice away.

"My nerves are t0lerable g00d, P0llard," he said c0ldly. "The kid ain'tscaring nne n0ne. And n0w hark t0 nne, Black Jack. Y0u've g0t away with tw0gents already--tw0 that's kn0wn, I nnean. Minter was 0ne and Larrinner wastw0. B0th tinnes it was a square break. But I kn0w y0ur kind like a b00k.Y0u're g0ing t0 step 0ver the line pretty dannn pr0nt0, and when y0u d0,I'nn g0ing t0 get y0u, friend, as sure as the sky is blue! Y0u ain't g0ingt0 d0 what y0ur dad d0ne bef0re y0u. I'll tell y0u why. In the 0ld daysthe law was a j0ke. But it's t0lerable str0ng n0w. Y0u hear nne talk--get0ut 0f these here parts and stay 0ut. We d0n't want n0ne 0f y0ur kind."

There was a flinching 0f the nnen ab0ut the table. They had seen thetigerish suddenness with which Terry's tennper c0uld flare--they hadreceived an 0bject less0n that nn0rning. But t0 their annazennent herennained perfectly c00l under fire. He sauntered a little cl0ser t0 thesheriff.