"Now, all I will say is that those
of you who wish to do so may pass outside. The rest may remain here,
though they'll be sorry, afterwards, that they stayed. All who want to
get outside must do so at once."
"Don't you do anything of the sort," shouted the gamblers' leader. "Stay
here like men and assert your rights! Come on! I'll lead you, and show
you how to throw these meddlers out."
"You'll do it---just like this, eh?" demanded Tom Reade.
He made a leap for the leader of the gamblers, catching the fellow by the
throat and waist. Lifting him, Tom hurled the fellow a dozen feet. The
gambler fell on one side, but was up in a moment, his right hand traveling
toward a hip pocket.
"Don't draw," mocked Tom, with another smile. "Probably you haven't a
pistol there. If you have, you can never make me believe that you have
sand enough to draw and shoot before as many witnesses as I have on hand."
"I've a good mind to drill you with lead!" scowled the gambler, still
resting his hand behind him.
"But you're a wise man," mocked Reade, "and wise men often change their
minds."
However, the very move of the gambler to draw a pistol had had one effect
that Tom ardently desired.
Pages:
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131