VI
THE MAN WHO TOOK WATER
Though there were but sixty miles between Painted Rock and Red River City, and sixty miles in Texas are nothing, Ben Williams and Sage-brush Greet had never met. Many had hoped they would come together: both the law-abiding and the lawless desired it; the representatives of the anæmic law were at one with the red-handed in this matter. For when two such as Ben and his equal, who was known familiarly as "Sage," do happen to run into the same town, there is usually one funeral, if not two, which will be attended by a thousand thankful mourners.
For Ben was the terror of Painted Rock, and Sage ran Red River City. They acknowledged no superiors and endured no equals. They were quick on the trigger; quick
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