not my frame-up!" he said. "The man's framed himself up. All I'm
going to do is to nail him to the wall!"

Standish had only time to return to his desk when Aintree stumbled up
the path and into the station-house. He was "fighting drunk," ugly,
offensive, all but incoherent with anger.

"You in charge?" he demanded. He did not wait for an answer. "I've
been 'saulted!" he shouted. "'Saulted by one of your damned policemen.
He struck me--struck me when I was protecting myself. He had a nigger
with him. First the nigger tripped me; then, when I tried to protect
myself, this thug of yours hits me, clubs me, you unnerstan', clubs me!
I want him--"

He was interrupted by the entrance of Meehan, who moved into the light
from the lamps and saluted his lieutenant.

"That's the man!" roared Aintree. The sight of Meehan whipped him into
greater fury.

"I want that man broke. I want to see you strip his shield off
him--now, you unnerstan', now--for 'saulting me, for 'saulting an
officer in the United States army. And, if you don't," he threw
himself into a position of the prize-ring, "I'll beat him up and you,
too." Through want of breath, he stopped, and panted. Again his voice
broke forth hysterically. "I'm not afraid of your damned
night-sticks," he taunted. "I got five hundred men on top this hill,
all I've got to do is to say the word, and they'll rough-house this
place and throw it into the cut--and you with it."

Standish rose to his feet, and across the desk looked steadily at
Aintree. To Aintree the steadiness of his eyes and the quietness of
his voice were an added aggravation.

"Suppose you did," said Standish, "that would not save you."

"From what?" roared Aintree. "Think I'm afraid of your night-sticks?"

"From arrest!"

"Arrest me!" yelled Aintree. "Do you know who's talking to you? Do you
know who I am? I'm Major Aintree, damn you, commanding the infantry.
An' I'm here to charge that thug--"

"You are here because you are under arrest," said Standish. "You are
arrested for threatening the police, drunkenness, and assaulting a
citizen with intent to kill--" The voice of the young man turned
shrill and rasping. "And if the man should die--"

Aintree burst into a bellow of mocking laughter.

Standish struck the desk with his open palm.

"Silence!" he commanded.

"Silence to me!" roared Aintree, "you impertinent pup!" He flung
himself forward, shaking his fist. "I'm Major Aintree.