"You cur, you!" cried Dick Rover. And beside himself with righteous anger, he sprang forward and planted a blow on Carson Davenport's chin that made the oil well promoter stagger back and fall flat.
"Hi! Hi! None of that around here!" bellowed Jake Tate, and caught Dick Rover by the arm.
"You get back there," was the quick reply. "This is none of your affair. This man has accused me of something, and he is going to take it back."
"You let my father alone!" broke in Jack, and rushed toward Tate, followed by Randy and Nick Ogilvie. Then the fellow fell back. Jackson viewed the contest in silence.
By this time Carson Davenport was struggling to his feet. He was in a terrible rage and came at Dick Rover blusteringly.
"What do you mean by hitting me that way, Rover?" he howled.
"You take back what you said, Davenport. If you don't I'll give you another one!" exclaimed Jack's father.
"I'll take back nothing."
"All right, then—here goes!" And once more Dick Rover's fist shot out, and again the oil well promoter measured his length on the ground.
This time as he arose he put his hand behind him in his hip pocket. But before he could draw any weapon, if such was his intention, Dick Rover was on him and had his arms pinioned.