“Is that personal?” demanded the Pike County man, frowning and half rising.
“It’s personal to me,” said Joshua quietly.
“I accept the apology,” said the newcomer, sinking back upon the turf.
“I hain’t apologized, as I’m aware,” said Joshua, who was no craven.
“You’d better not rile me, stranger,” said the Pike man fiercely. “You don’t know me, you don’t. I’m a rip-tail roarer, I am. I always kill a man who insults me.”
“So do we,” said Joe quietly.
The Pike County man looked at Joe in some surprise. He had expected to frighten the boy with his bluster, but it didn’t seem to produce the effect intended.
CHAPTER XXVI
A DESPERADO
Mr. Bickford also seemed a little surprised at Joe’s coolness. Though not a coward in the face of danger, he had been somewhat impressed by the fierce aspect of the man from Pike County, and really looked upon him as a reckless daredevil who was afraid of nothing. Joe judged him more truly. He decided that a man who boasted so loudly was a sham. If he had talked less, he would have feared him more.
After his last bloodthirsty declaration the man from Pike County temporarily subsided.