"Any witnesses?" asked the sergeant.
"Me," said Jim. "It was the way Jack says."
"Put 'em in the wagon," commanded law and order.
Coffey Neal was picking up his threads again at the place he had dropped them.
"And what if we won't drink with you, Ed Miles!" he muttered, somewhat scattered.
"Likely the Bridewell, Coffey," laughed the big fellow.
The vanquished were escorted out into the night.
The victor and his vassals, perhaps a dozen of them by this time, remained in possession of the field.
"Good thing I had those coppers planted before I started anything," commented the big fellow. "Those strong-arm guys like to got me going at the end."
"They certainly handled themselves very useful," Jack acknowledged.