“Mean to say I’m a thief?” asked the other hotly.
“Any fellow who will disable a car just to get a commission for having it overhauled isn’t giving much attention to the interests of his employer; what’s more——”
Hibbard’s face was full of wrath. With a muttered oath, he struck at Clancy with his fist.
The red-headed chap was not taken by surprise. He had kept his eyes on the chauffeur’s face, and he knew that blow was coming an instant before it was launched.
Clancy side-stepped with the swiftness of lightning, and the clenched hand found only space. Before Hibbard could recover his balance, Clancy had struck him and sent him to his knees.
“Gle-ory to snakes, and all sashay!” piped Fortune jubilantly. “Pard, you found him! That little surprise party was somethin’ of a jolt. The cimiroon went gunnin’ for more’n he expected.”
With a bellow of rage, Hibbard regained his feet and plunged into the garage. The next moment a monkey wrench came sailing through the door, but Clancy saw it in time to dodge. Hibbard followed the monkey wrench in person, armed with a hammer. His face was working convulsively, and he seemed absolutely beside himself.
“I’ll kill you!” he cried huskily.
Fortune leaped to take a hand in the set-to, but Clancy ordered him back.
“Leave Hibbard to me,” he said; “I can handle him.”