"I said I would take it for the uses of the United States. Come, roll it out and hitch up before I have to resort to violence."
"I don't know you, bub. I'm from Missouri. You'll have to show me."
Ted exposed his star of authority.
"Does that go?" he asked. "Because if it don't, this will."
His revolver was out of its holster like a flash, much to the surprise of the liveryman, who had been somewhat of a bad man himself in his day, and gun plays were not uncommon at Rodeo.
He gazed mildly into the bore of the big, silver-mounted forty-five, and then murmured:
"It goes, pal."