As he did so, Amos passed along on the opposite side of the street and entered a small livery stable.

“What sort of place is that over there?” Nick asked.

“Rather a tough joint, I should say. They have very little business when there are no races on.”

Nick removed the badge indicating that he was a follower of Denver Bay, and pinned the steel badge of a deputy sheriff upon his vest.

“Here’s your pill. It’s big enough to sweeten a cup of coffee with.”

“I’ll sweeten more than that with it,” said Nick, as he took it, paid the bill, and hastened off to the livery stable.

Amos sat on a bench near the driveway, conversing with several attaches of the place.

“Here comes a new deputy,” said one of the loungers, as Nick stepped up. “You haven’t been on the force long, have you, partner?”

“Just got on this morning.”

“I thought I hadn’t seen you around before.”