“More than you’ll ever get,” cried Bob, growing desperate. “Will you let go?”
“I told you before I would not.”
“Then take that!”
Bob had by this time somewhat recovered from the blow in the neck. He now hauled off with his right fist and let the swindler have it straight in the mouth.
Bob threw all his muscle in the blow. It caught Joe Horning in the upper lip, and not only drew the blood, but also loosened two of the swindler’s front teeth.
The swindler began to splutter, and he put up one of his hands to his mouth.
Thus partially released, Bob twisted himself free from the other hand, rolled over and sprang up.
Joe Horning had not anticipated such resentment on Bob’s part, and he was surprised in addition to being hurt. He stepped back into the road, and made a movement as if to draw a pistol.
“I’ll fix you!” he muttered, after spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Whether the swindler had a pistol or not, Bob did not know. But he was determined to take no risk with so desperate a character, and, springing forward, he closed in on Horning.