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man Dusty had knocked over the table, then at the unconscious bouncer. With a contemptuous jerk of her head she ordered them taken out back then went up the stairs again.
    On the street Doc looked at Dusty. “A man’d say you knew that big gent in the saloon.”
    “Was my farrier in the Texas Light,” Dusty answered. “Say one thing, that blonde gal’s real fast thinking.”
    “Meaning?” Doc asked looking at Dusty again, seeing far more than he had first realised. Dusty was more than just good with a gun.
    “Like this. A lawman in any town stands or falls on the way the folks back him. That play there was rigged to try me out. Dammed near everybody who knows Cy Bollinger for over a week knows how mean he gets when he’s riled. She figured that I’d either kill Cy, who never goes armed, or back down. Either way I lose respect of some of the town.”
    “Man’d say you gave her a surprise,” Doc chuckled. “I know one thing. You sure handed one to me.”
    They arrived at the jail and heard a woman’s voice raised in anger inside. “I’m warning you, Cy Bollinger. I’ve just about took all I aim to. Going in that fat hussy’s place and getting arrested for brawling!”
    Dusty, Mark and Doc entered to hear Bollinger spluttering feeble attempts at apologising while the big, buxom, good looking woman told him what she thought of him. She was a black haired woman wearing a cheap gingham dress which emphasised a figure as rich and full as Bearcat Annie’s. Turning she stopped, then smiled a greeting at Dusty.
    “Why howdy Cap’n Fog, sir.” Her voice dropped to a polite note which contrasted with the strident tones she had used to her husband. “I’m sure Cy didn’t mean any disrespect down there. He was led astray by them evil bunch.”
    “That’s all right, Mrs. Bollinger, ma’am,” Dusty removed his hat and held out his hand towards her.
    Maggie Bollinger rubbed her palms against her frock then took Dusty’s hands, blushing in a manner which would have amazed her friends. She was never able to get used to a famous man like Captain Fog treating her with respect and politeness.
    “How about Cy, Cap’n?”
    “There’s no charge against him. But Cy—.”
    “Yes sir, Cap’n,” Bollinger answered, stiffening up again.
    “You cause trouble again and I’ll bounce you the length of Lee Street by the ears. Understand?”
    “Yes sir, Cap’n.” Bollinger had never really understood the strange fighting techniques of karate and ju-jitsu Ole Devil Hardin’s Nipponese servant, Tommy Okasi, taught Dusty. What Bollinger did know was they rendered Dusty well capable of doing just what he said. “I’ll behave.”
    “And I’ll see that he does,” Maggie Bollinger warned grimly. “Come on home, you.”
    Cy Bollinger followed his wife from the room still trying to explain how he came to be in Bearcat Annie’s place. The door shut and Dusty looked at the others. “See what it’s like to be married.”
    “Sure, that’s why I’m staying single,” Rusty agreed.
    Dusty chuckled. He knew the Bollingers were a happily married couple and devoted to each other. It was only when something like this came up that their happiness was marred.
    “How’s the prisoner?” Mark asked.
    “Bedded down real comfortable. The Judge came by. Says he’ll be back to tell you how much the fine is, Dusty,” the Kid replied. “That gambling man sure handles a real mean broom.”
    The jail was cleaner, the weapons in the racks looking more serviceable than before. Outside word was going the rounds of the town as men told of what happened in Bearcat Annie’s Saloon. The general feeling was that at last Quiet Town was going to have some law.
    CHAPTER POUR
    Roxie Delue
    “I’LL RAISE!” Mark Counter said the words of wisdom as he studied his cards. “And if you’ve got those three kings again I’m going to look on you with dire suspicion.”
    Doc Leroy, the dealer, shrugged his shoulders. “T’ain’t worth me