“Look out! He's awake,” it warned.
The young man's hand inadvertently moved toward his revolver-butt. This drew a sharp imperative order from one of the men in front.
“Throw up your hands, and damn quick!”
“You seem to have the call, gentlemen,” he smiled. “Would you mind telling me what it's all about?”
“You know what it's all about as well as we do. Collect his gun, Tom.”
“This hold-up business seems to be a habit in this section. Second time to-day I've been the victim of it,” said the victim easily.
“It will be the last,” retorted one of the men grimly.
“If you're after the mazuma you've struck a poor bank.”
“You've got your nerve,” cried one of the men in a rage; and another demanded: “Where did you get that hawss?”
“Why, I got it—” The young man stopped in the middle of his sentence. His jaw clamped and his eyes grew hard. “I expect you better explain what right you got to ask that question.”