“Never mind raising that weapon, son,” he called out; “on second thought I guess I’d have been a fool to lay a hand on any of you. But just keep my warning in mind, and leave my plans for amusing the public alone, will you? I give you my word you’ll be sorry if you bother me any more.”
He wheeled, and hurried away. Billie chuckled a little, as though amused, and as the showman turned
and shot a vindictive glance back toward him it was evident he must have heard the sound, and also that it rankled in his soul.
The three boys soon had their heads together, and of course this time the subject of their talk was the man who had made such a fool of himself as to threaten Adrian, because he had spoken his mind when the old chief asked his opinion.
“He’s a sure enough bad egg,” Billie affirmed, and neither of the others seemed inclined to differ with him on that score, at least.
“I saw him talking to two different men awhile back,” remarked Donald. “It was after you and the chief had been having that nice little confab, Adrian; and from the way he pointed over this way several times, I got the idea in my head he was telling them about what he’d seen you doing.”
“In that case then, you would know who two of his crowd might be?” suggested the other chum, quickly.
“That’s right, I do; and let me tell you both while I’m about it; because, if it seems we’re just bound to have a rumpus with Braddon and his set, the sooner we spot the whole outfit the better.”
“Go ahead then, Donald,” urged Adrian.
“First, there was that little sawed-off we were watching awhile back; he seems to be a lively specimen, even if he is so short; and I don’t fancy