and you haven't the
shadow of an interest in it. You stole it from the Phillipsburg
freight depot, and----"

"Stop that!" blustered the corn salve doctor. "How dare you call me a
thief, boy?"

"That is what you are, and nothing less. If you----"

"Do you hear that, fellows?" interrupted Barberry, turning to the two
men.

"You want to keep a civil tongue in your head, boy!" cried one of the
men sharply. "Calling a man a thief is a serious business."

"And being a thief is still more serious," replied Andy. "Perhaps you
fancy you can bluff us, as the saying is, but you are mistaken. This
turn-out is ours, and we are here to claim it. If you molest us in the
least we will hand you all over to the police."

"We can stand up for ourselves," returned the man with a deep scowl.
"We are three to two, and we are armed."

"So you would use force to retain our property, eh?" said Andy.

"We do not admit that it is your property."

"But it is. Now let me tell you something. We stopped at the village
just north of here, and got the assistance of nearly a dozen men. They
are scattered about, and should you attempt to molest us I shall give
them a signal----"

"Not much you won't!" cried the man addressed, and springing forward,
he clapped his hand over Andy's mouth. "Tend to the other one,
fellows, I can manage this one!"

"All right," returned his companion, and he, as well as Paul Barberry,
fell upon Matt.

The attack had been so sudden that Andy and Matt were hardly prepared
to defend themselves. The former was forced over on his back, and
despite his utmost exertions, was unable to remove his assailant's
hand from his mouth.

Matt was thrown over on his side, and while Paul Barberry held one of
his arms, the other man tried to force him into silence.

"Make a single sound and I'll kick you in the face," he ejaculated in
a low, but intense tone.

"Help! help!" cried Matt, ignoring the threat entirely, and he
continued to call out so long as his breath lasted.

The burly ruffian tried to kick him as he had promised, but with his
disengaged hand Matt caught his foot, and after dancing about to
regain his balance, the man came down heavily across the young
auctioneer's legs.

The force of the fall was so great that Matt cried out shrilly with
pain. For the moment he imagined that both of his limbs must be
broken.

"Clap your hand over his mouth, Barberry!" cried the burly man, as he
struggled to regain his