"For Gawd's sake, gents!" he pleaded. "Block'll be here in a minute! Go out in the street, won't yuh?"
"'Block'll be here,'" repeated Loudon. "How do yuh know he'll be here?"
The bartender began to stutter. His complexion became yellower. Loudon turned to Laguerre.
"Talks funny, don't he?" he observed. "Can't say nothin' but 'I.'"
Reaching across the bar, he seized the bartender by the shoulder.
"Say, fellah," he continued, "how do yuh know so much about Block?"
"I—I—I——" sputtered the bartender.
"I thought Block had left town. How do yuh know he's back?"
The bartender changed his tune.
"Ow! Ow!" he yelled. "Yo're hurtin' me! My shoulder! Ow!"