The Ranchman Part 39

"We got that from Lazette," grinned Norton. "We had to have _some_ noise! As I told you the other day," he went on, speaking loudly, so that Taylor could hear him above the tumult, "it is all fixed up. Judge Littlefield stayed on the job here, because he promised to be good. He hadn't really done anything, you know. And after we made Danforth and the five councilmen resign that night, and saw them aboard the east-bound the next morning, we made Littlefield wire the governor about what had happened. Littlefield went to the capital shortly afterward and told the governor some things that astonished him. And the governor appointed you to fill Danforth's unexpired term. But, of course, that was only an easy way for the governor to surrender. So everything is lovely."

Norton paused, out of breath.

And Taylor smiled at his wife. "Yes," he said, as he took her arm, "this is a mighty good little old world-if you treat it right."

"And if you stay faithful," added the moist-eyed woman.

"And if you fall in love," supplemented Taylor.

"And when the people of a town want to honor you," added Norton significantly.

And then, arm in arm, followed by Norton, Taylor and his wife rode forward, their horses close together, toward the great crowd of people that jammed the street around the band-stand, their voices now raised above the music that blared forth from the brazen instruments.