“I’m not saying any thing about that just now,” was the cool response.
“Oh, excuse me, of course not.” The short fellow looked around, but failed to catch sight of our hero. “Jack, how about a smoke?” he said to the other short fellow.
“Strike a light,” was the answer.
The words were evidently a secret signal, for hardly were they spoken when one of the short men caught the westerner from behind and held his arms.
“Here, what’s the meaning of this?” cried the man, in alarm.
“Keep still, old man, and we won’t hurt you. Raise a row and you’ll get knocked out. Quick, Pete, with his diamond pin and that roll of bills in his left pocket!”
At this command the man in front rushed in and caught hold of the man’s pin. Out it came in his hand, a beautiful affair, worth at least a hundred dollars.
“Stop! stop!” yelled the westerner. “Police! police!”
“Shut up!” hissed the man who held him. “Pete, crack him over the head. We can’t afford to take any chances here.”
Thus ordered, the man who held the diamond pin slipped it into his pocket. Then he raised his heavy cane and started to do as bidden when Jerry rushed at him.