“There’s the unpleasant possibility that Hooker may not get straightened out, Shultz. Anyhow, perhaps it will be some time before he does. Perhaps he’ll come around gradually, and some of us may be able to see him and caution him to keep mum. It’s the only chance.”
“And if he doesn’t come around at all, and none of the crowd squeals, how are they ever going to find out just what happened? There you are.”
“They will find it out, Shultz; I’ve made up my mind to that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that somebody is going to tell the truth. If you don’t do it, somebody else will.”
Osgood was compelled to grapple with Shultz, who strove to reach Billy, crying hoarsely:
“Let me get at that little whelp! He’s threatening to blow on us! I’ll fix him!”
“No, you won’t,” said Ned, displaying an amount of strength that surprised Piper, who still remained apparently calm and undisturbed. “He hasn’t said that he’s going to blow.”
“But that was what he meant.”
Ned thrust the raging fellow back and held him until he had calmed down somewhat.