Frank showed his nerve then. He did not even change color, although the arrest had fallen upon him so suddenly.
"Your words are plain enough, sir," he said. "There is no reason why I should provoke you into shooting me, as I have nothing to fear from arrest."
"I have been led to understand that you are a very dangerous character," said File, looking Merry over in some surprise. "You do not seem so at first glance."
Frank smiled a bit.
"I assure you I am not in the least dangerous," he said. "I surrender without the least resistance."
Eliot Dodge stood in the background, rubbing his hands together and grinning.
"Mr. Dodge," said the city marshal, "will you be good enough to relieve this young man of his weapons."
"Eh?" said Dodge nervously. "I—I—yes, sir."
He came forward and took Frank's revolvers, handling them gingerly, as if fearing they would explode in his hands. He passed them over to File, who afterward searched Merry himself.
In spite of Frank's coolness, he was indignant over the outrage.