“Well, if you could bring such a state of affairs about, the whole town would owe you a vote of thanks,” declared Sawyer.
“It is not very likely that he will molest me again, unless, by some chance, it becomes known that he was handled roughly this time. Then he may make a desperate attempt to reclaim his lost reputation.”
“And you are not at all afraid of him, Mr. Merriwell?” “Afeared of him?” exploded Ephraim Gallup. “By gum! I ain’t never yit seen ther critter that walked araound on two laigs that Frank Merriwell was skeered of.”
“But this fellow is a bloodthirsty ruffian.”
“I do not believe he is nearly as bloodthirsty as he wishes people to believe,” said Merriwell.
“Would you go right out of the door down there if you knew he was waiting for you?” asked Sawyer, doubtfully.
Frank laughed outright.
“Do you think I would drop out of a window on the other side of the building so he would not see me?”
“No, but it don’t seem to me that you know just what kind of a man Sam Hooker is. You don’t seem to realize that he has whipped five fighting men in a stand-up battle. I don’t believe that kind of a man can be easily tamed.”
“Why, ding-darn it!” cried Gallup. “He never come back to git any more arter he run ag’in Frank!”