"Force your way in!" said Tarbox, indignantly. "You've got the law on your side."
This the constable positively refused to do.
"Then buy a ticket and go in. The State will pay you back."
"I've no call to do it, and I don't believe I'd get my money back."
"You refuse to do your duty, do you?"
"No I don't. I've tried, and I can't. You know how it is yourself."
Mr. Tarbox was nonplussed. He didn't like to give up his cherished scheme of vengeance, yet how was he to carry it out?
"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said; "I'll buy you a ticket, and trust to the State to pay me."
"You can't collect it of me," said the constable, "even if the State don't pay you. You can buy me a ticket if you want to."
But Tarbox was seized with a sudden suspicion. Spriggins might go in and see the show at his expense, and leave his duty unperformed. There was nothing to do but to go in with him, and that would involve the purchase of two tickets, and the expenditure of an entire dollar, which Tarbox, who was a close man, could not think of without mentally groaning. Nevertheless, his soul thirsted for revenge, and it was clear that revenge could not be had without expense.