brother's death. The two became boon companions, to the great
detriment of the younger man's morals. McKee had plenty of money
which he spent liberally, gambling and carousing in company with
Bud. Polly was wild with indignation at her sweetheart's
desertion, and savagely upbraided him for his conduct whenever
they met, which may be inferred, grew less and less frequently.
It was in revenge she made advances to another man who long
"loved her from afar."

This was William Henry Harrison Hoover, sheriff of the county,
known as "Slim" Hoover by the humorous propensity of men on the
range to give nicknames on the principle of contraries, for he
was fattest man in Pinal County. Slim was one of those fleshy
men who have nerves of steel and muscles of iron. A round,
boyish face, twinkling blue eyes, flaming red hair gave him an
appearance entirely at variance with his personality. A vein of
sentiment made him all the more lovable. His associates--
ranchers, men of the plains, soldiers, and the owners and
frequenters of the frontier barroom--respected him greatly.

"He's square as Slim" was the best recommendation ever given of a
man in that region.

Pinal County settlers had made Slim sheriff term after term
because he was the one citizen supremely fitted for the place. He
had ridden the range and "busted" broncos before election. After
it he hunted wrong-doers. Right was right and wrong was wrong to
him. There was no shading in the meaning. All he asked of men
was to ride fast, shoot straight, and deal squarely in any game.
He admitted that murder, horse-stealing, and branding another