After a few whispered words in the ear of the distracted young woman, Mr. Fox turned to the others. "I'll tell you what we'll do, gentlemen," said he, and then added, with a polite bow to the corpulent Mrs. Bloomer, "and ladies. Mrs. Fox and I had planned giving a little exhibition at the hotel, but that now seems to be out of the question. Kindly bear in mind that we are not visiting your little city on pleasure bent. We are here strictly for business. As a rule we do not make one-night stands. But we have been attracted to your charming city almost against our will--although, I may add, it was at the earnest invitation of one of your most important denizens--I should say citizens. You will agree, I am sure, that it would hardly pay us to visit a place like this unless we were reasonably assured of something in the way of pecuniary benefits. You may not know it, gentlemen, but we have had a bona-fide offer of one hundred dollars--and that isn't to be sneezed at, is it? We--Please bear with me, Mr. Hawk. I shall not detain you--" "My name is Mr. Crow," snapped Anderson. "Sorry," apologized Fox. "I fear I confused you with the celebrated Hawkshaw, the detective." Mr. Crow turned purple. "That's what Harry Squires, the reporter on the _Banner_, calls him most of the time," volunteered Mort Fryback. "That, an' Shellback Holmes." "Such is fame," said Mr. Fox agreeably. "Well, to get right down to cases, Mrs. Fox and I propose that you allow us to give our little exhibition in the Town Hall,--if you have one--and--" "Not much!" roared Anderson. "I've had enough of this talk. I'm going to take action at once." He flung open the front door and addressed the group in front of the store, now increased to nearly a score, including several scattered women and children--and Ed Higgins' dog. "I call on all you men to assist me in surrounding the Grand View Hotel. There is dangerous work ahead, and I want only the bravest,--wait a second, Newt, don't go away,--and most determined men in town to volunteer. Here, Mort, you hand out some axes, an' pitchforks, an' crowbars, an'--" "Oh, for heaven's sake, George," cried Mrs. Fox frantically, "don't let them do it. Stop them!" But the stranger motioned for her to be silent. * * * * * Some time was spent in explaining the situation to the posse, and in stationing a group of the hardiest men beneath certain windows of the second floor back. During this arrangement of forces, three of the bravest men in Tinkletown had to go to the post office for some very important letters, and two more rushed over to see that they came back.