"Here's my money. A hundred to ten you are a liar, and a hundred to one you dare not show your face."
"Here I am."
The voice sounded as though the speaker stood directly in the midst of the trio of dudes. The "chappies" looked at each other in amazement.
"Send for an officer," came a voice. "I've lost my pocketbook."
It appeared as though the voice came from the opposite side of the crowd to where the dudes were standing.
The dudes were dumfounded; indeed, the game was stopped and the owner of the billiard hall walked over to learn what the row was. Very well, at this point the row commenced. One of the youths, calling the proprietor of the hall by name, said, or seemed to say:
"You go away from here, you duffer. We own this place and don't want any of your interference."
The declaration took the proprietor's breath away for a moment. He just stood and gazed, when another of the youths appeared to say:
"Charley, why don't you smash Decker in the jaw? What business has he to come around here and interfere with our fun?"