The new arrival stiffened at this, his fingers twitched, and he fastened upon Benz a coldly penetrating look. Judd's fear of physical contact was no more. The suitcases dropped to the cinder platform and hands went to hips.
"I reckon I can't stop you, if you're hankering for a fight," came the words with a drawl.
Somehow this clumsy broad-shouldered figure took on an appearance of power as he seemed to forget himself, which bred respect.
"Go easy, Benz!" warned Neil, sizing Judd up, "No use starting trouble."
"I'm not starting it," retorted Benz, "I'm finishing it."
With that the ringleader of the ill-treated reception committee swung a vicious right hook to the new arrival's jaw. Judd's left arm flashed up to block the blow. At the same moment Judd took a quick step forward and brought his right fist into play. It caught Benz almost on the point of the chin and spun him about in a circle.
"Say, the rube can fight!" exclaimed Potts, surprised. "Boy, he's sure different from his brother!"
"Here, fellows! What's the big idea?"
The figure of Cateye hurled itself between as Benz, reeling, staggered back toward Judd, bent on retaliating.
"Let me at him!" pleaded Benz, furiously, "I'll show him he can't get away with this stuff. So Bob sent him, eh? What a lemon!"