l is asleep. Let him be. Worn out. Akins is--we've no time for
Akins. Here's a plenty--us three, the jailer and Dines. Jailer all
right, is he?"

"Any turn in the road. Do you usually tote three guns, young feller?"

"Two of these are momentums--no, mementos," said Charlie. "I've been
spoiling the Egyptians. Spoiled some six or eight, I guess--and a
couple more soured on the job. That'll keep. Tell you to-morrow. Let's
go!"

"Vait! Vait!" said Preisser. "Go by my place--I'll gome vith you so
far--science shall aid your brude force. Perrault and me, you say, ve
stay here. Ve are not vit to sed in der vorevront of battles--vat?
Good! Then ve vill send to represend us my specimens. I haf two lufly
specimens of abblied psygology, galgulated to haf gontrolling
influence vith a mob at the--ah, yes!--the zoological moment! You vill
see, you vill say I am quide righdt! Gome on!"

* * * * *

"And they aim to get here sudden and soon?" Mr. George Gwinne smiled
on his three visitors benevolently. "That's good. We won't have long
to wait. I hate waiting. Bad for the nerves. Well, let's get a wiggle.
What you got in that box, Spinal? Dynamite?"

Spinal grinned happily.

"Ho! Dynamite? My, you're the desprit character, ain't you? Dynamite?
Not much. Old stuff, and it shoots both ways. We're up-to-date, we
are. This here box, Mr. Gwinne--we have in this box the last straw
that broke the camel's back. Listen!"

He held up the box. Gwinne listened. His smile broadened. He sat down
suddenly and--the story hates to tell this--Mr. Gwinne giggled. It was
an unseemly exhibition, particularly from a man so large as Mr.
Gwinne.

"Going to give Dines a gun?" inquired Hamilton.

Mr. Gwinne wiped his eyes. "No. That wouldn't be sensible. They'd
spring a light on us, see Dines, shoot Dines, and go home. But they
don't want to lynch us and they'll hesitate about throwing the first
shot. We'll keep Dines where he is."

He led the way to Johnny's cell. The conversation had been low-voiced;
Johnny was asleep. Gwinne roused him.

"Hey, Johnny! When is your friend coming to break you out?"

"Huh?" said Johnny.

"If he shows up, send him to the back door, and I'll let him in. We're
going to have a lynchin' bee presently."

"Why, that was me!" said Charlie.

"Oh, was it? Excuse me. I didn't recognize your voice. You was
speakin' pretty low, you see. I was right round the corner. Dog heard
you, and I hea