"You don't understand, do ye!" chuckled he. "Well, I'll tell ye: What do them folks see when they open their windows and look down here in the road? They see three hard-lookin' fellers with guns in their hands, here in this bright moonlight. And they see somethin' scarier to them than a hundred strangers with guns--they see _ME_! There ain't a mother's son of 'em that'll budge downstairs while I'm here, not if you pound on their doors till the cows come home." And he slapped his knee with his good hand and laughed in pure ecstasy--a laugh that caught all the little group and rocked it as with one mind. "We don't begrudge you that, do we boys?" Hallisey conceded. "Smith, you're as respectable-looking as any of us. Hunt around and see if you can find a Constable that isn't onto this thing. We'll wait here for you." Moving out of the zone of the late demonstration, Private Smith learned the whereabouts of the home of a Constable. "What's wanted?" asked the Constable, responding like a normal burgher to Smith's knock at his door. "Officer of State Police," answered Smith. "I have a man under arrest and want to put him in the lock-up. Will you get me the keys?" "Sure. I'll come right down and go along with you myself. Just give me a jiffy to get on my trousers and boots," cried the Constable, clearly glad of a share in the adventure. In a moment the borough official was at the Trooper's side, talking eagerly as they moved toward the place where the party waited. "So, he's a highwayman, is he? Good! and a burglar, too, and a cattle-thief! Good work! And you've got him right up the street, ready to jail! Well, I'll be switched. Now, what might his name be? Israel Drake? _Not Israel Drake!_ Oh, my God!" The Constable had stopped in his tracks like a man struck paralytic. "No, stranger," he quavered. "I reckon I--I--I won't go no further with you just now. Here, I'll give you the keys. You can use 'em yourself: These here's for the doors. This bunch is for the cells. _Good_-night to you. I'll be getting back home!" By the first train next morning the Troopers, conveying their prisoner, left the village for the County Town. As they deposited Drake in the safe-keeping of the County Jail and were about to depart, he seemed burdened with an impulse to speak, yet said nothing. Then, as the three officers were leaving the room, he leaned over and touched Merryfield on the shoulder. "Shake!" he growled, offering his unwounded hand. Merryfield "shook" cheerfully, with his own remaining sound member. "I'm plumb sorry to see ye go, and that's a fact," growled the outlaw. "Because--well, because you're the only _man_ that ever tried to arrest me." KATHERINE MAYO