"Open--in the name of the law!" CHAPTER XXIV THE BATTLE OF WITS Ralph instantly arose to his feet and unlocked the office door. He was about to open it when it was forcibly burst inwards in his grasp. "We want to get in here," vociferated a strident voice, and a consequential-looking little fellow, wearing his coat open so that a constable's badge showed on his vest, swept over the threshold as if he was leading an army to an attack. "Certainly," said Ralph, with great politeness. "Come in, gentlemen--there's a good fire and enough chairs, I guess." He was interested in quickly casting his eye over the marauding group. Six men had followed the constable in hot haste. One of them, who kept close to the officer, seemed to be his assistant. Four men, rough looking and with fiery breaths and faces, Ralph recognized as the group he had seen in the town that afternoon, two of whom had followed him to the lawyer's house. The real leader of the party, however, was a man whom Ralph had never seen before. He at once surmised that this was Dorsett. The latter pushed the others aside and stepped up to Ralph insolently. "Who are you?" he demanded, with a scowl of suspicion and dislike. "I represent the brother of Mr. Glidden." "Oh, you do?" sneered Dorsett. "I thought you was the office boy." "Representative, hey?" snapped out the constable quickly. "Stand aside, Mr. Dorsett. This is the very person I wish to see." The official made a great ado getting a bundle of papers out of his pocket. He selected one, flopped it open and fixed an imperious eye on Ralph. "As agent de facto, ex officio, essettery, I present a demand against Henry William Glidden in the penal sum of four thousand one hundred and twenty-seven dollars and ninety-eight cents. Are you authorized to pay the same, deprosedendum, or forever hold your peace." "I have one thousand dollars at the home of the lawyer," explained Ralph. "Cash?" demanded the constable, licking his chops and blinking his eyes like a ravenous wolf at the mention of money. "Yes, sir, and the balance will be here in Derby before court sits in the morning." "Court don't sit any more in this case," growled out Dorsett, who all along had regarded Ralph with a leery eye. "Here's the court." "I say, Dorsett, the lad talks business. One thousand dollars ain't to be sneezed at. So much on account, see? Just an appetizer. We'll gobble the whole outfit finally. Um-m-m--" and his voice died away into a drone into the ear of Dorsett only, who shook his head with the forcible words: "No. I won't lose a minute. Get at your job instantly." "Ha-hum," observed the constable, flapping the document in his hand importantly and again approaching Ralph. "Ipse dixit de profundis--you refuse to pay this just claim?" "It will be paid within the legal limit of time," answered Ralph. "The legal limit of time has elapsed," declared the constable, "as witness this document."