“Held up by footpads?” asked Jim, in some alarm.
“Not exactly,” grinned Joe. “Footpads take your money, but these fellows were giving it away. Offered me fifty thousand dollars.”
Jim bounded from his chair.
“Stop talking in riddles,” he adjured him, “and give me the low-down of the thing.”
Joe described the affair from beginning to end while Jim listened with interest and growing indignation.
“My, but I’m glad you soaked him!” he exclaimed.
“He’d have gotten more yet if his teeth hadn’t gone down his throat,” returned Joe. “That was the only thing, too, that saved Harrish from a thrashing.”
“I guess you’ve made a new record to hang alongside of your other ones,” said Jim, with a smile.
“How’s that?” queried Joe.
“Why, I guess you’re the first man in history that ever knocked a man’s teeth down his throat for offering him fifty thousand dollars.”