Laguerre laughed outright. From behind the bar came the sound of a snicker hastily stifled.
"You let me go," yapped Luke Maxson, "an' I'll down yuh first chance I git!"
"Good argument against lettin' yuh go."
At the window flanking the door appeared the plump face and shoulders of Judge Allison.
"Why don't yuh do somethin', —— yuh?" yelled Luke Maxson. "I'm gettin' tired holdin' my arms up!"
"Well," said Loudon, "as I told yuh before, though yuh can't seem to get it through yore thick head, it's a mighty boggy ford. I feel just like the fellah swingin' on the wildcat's tail. I want to let go, but I can't. If I was shore none o' yore measly friends would shoot me in the back, I'd let yuh go get yore Winchester an' shoot it out with me in the street at a hundred yards. But the chance o' yore friends bustin' in shore dazzles me."
"None of 'em won't move a finger!" Luke hastened to assure Loudon.
The latter looked doubtful. The Judge coughed gently and rubbed his clean-shaven chin.
"Mr. Franklin," said Judge Allison, "should you care to try conclusions with Mr. Maxson in the street, pray accept my assurances that no one will interfere. I speak unofficially, of course. Furthermore, in a wholly unofficial capacity I shall oversee proceedings from the sidewalk. If any one should be so ill-advised as to—— But no one will, no one will."
"You hear what the Judge says?" Loudon cocked an eyebrow at Luke Maxson.