“It won’t be good fer yer if you are!” muttered Higgins.
“We can take Hodge away from him—I know we can!” whispered Diamond, eagerly. “Say the word, and we’ll jump him!”
“That’s right,” nodded Browning, with deliberation.
Higgins backed off a bit, still holding fast to Hodge, and handling his revolver threateningly.
“Blamed if I don’t take the whole gang in!” he shouted. “I reckon you’re all standin’ in together with this feller.”
“You will have a warm time taking in this crowd,” said Frank, quickly. “We are friends of Mr. Hodge, and therefore we think it no more than right that we should know why he is arrested.”
“If that’s goin’ to satisfy ye, you shall know. He’s arrested for shovin’ the queer.”
“Shoving—the—queer?”
“That’s whatever!”
“But—but there must be a mistake.”