McDuffie protested and made a motion to approach Rube, but seeing he was powerless, said: “All right, Rube; you have the drop, and can have your way.” Rube then made Jesse shackle McDuffie and Marshal together. Taking the key of the jail-yard door from the chair where McDuffie had placed it, Rube, jumping up about two feet from the floor, cracked his heels together and exclaimed: “I have the big key to the jail. I am boss of the town, and as some people say I am not Rube Burrow, I will paint Linden red, and show them who I am.” He then ordered Jesse to go with him to find Carter. Carter’s exact whereabouts were not known to either Rube or Jesse. To the hotel and thence to the sheriff’s office they journeyed, and spending nearly an hour in a fruitless search for Carter, Rube thought Jesse was purposely delaying him. “I will kill you,” said Rube, “if I find you are fooling with me.” Jesse, however, was innocent. He did not know where Carter could be found. Further inquiry developed that he was in Glass’ store. Rube knocked loudly on the door, and stepping aside, covered Jesse with his pistol, and in a stern whisper said: “Tell him the express people have come, and McDuffie wants him at the jail quick.” A clerk answered the call to the door, and to him Jesse repeated the order in a voice loud enough to be heard by Carter, who was in the rear part of the store. Carter’s footsteps could be distinctly heard as he came across the floor. Just as he appeared in the doorway Rube threw himself in front of him, and placing his pistol within a few inches of Carter’s breast, commanded: “Give me my rifle and my money, or I will shoot your head off.” Carter, instantly taking in the situation, replied, “All right,” and placing his hand in his hip pocket, pulled a thirty-two caliber Smith & Wesson pistol. The hour was just at dawn of day. The two men stood face to face, the one gleaming with rage and thirsting for revenge, the other cool, fearless and determined, with law and justice on his side, not to accede to the outlaw’s demand. When the sheen of Carter’s pistol flashed upon Rube’s vision the outlaw fired, and Carter, anticipating the shot, threw his body to the right. The ball pierced the left shoulder, just above the collar bone, making a painful wound. Carter’s intrepid courage was not dashed by his wound, and he instantly returned the fire. Rube, for the first time in all his career of crime, was called to stand and fight. He had “held the drop” on many a field of rencontre, but here was an even gauge of battle, with the _qui vive_ as the vantage ground for him.