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When be reappeared in fresh linen, outing clothes and a natty straw hat, he was still laughing. Approaching the group in the drawing room, where Marshal Jack Jellup had now arrived, the young reporter took out his pocket book and a five dollar bill. "I'll pay that back first," he began; and then noticing one of his cards he politely handed it to the marshal.
"All right," he exclaimed, "we've tried to do the fair and decent thing, and if you want to be stubborn Marshal Jellup can do as he likes." "Git!" It was the marshal who spoke and he did so as if it were a pleasure. "I'll take the Limited west to Gallup at noon," said Russell, "if I can stop it and catch the eastbound train there to-night."
Even as the tears sprang into the bound boys eyes and pain and anger flushed his pallid face, the cowardly Jellup fell backward and stumbled to the floor. Alan, standing just behind the man, had shot his knees forward, striking Jellup's legs in the hollow of his knees, and, thrown off his balance, the westerner lay sprawling on the floor.
Marshal Jellup made a formal charge against the two boys of "resisting and interfering with an officer" and then each told his story. The decision was immediate. Mayor Bradley ordered that both boys be released and the court be instantly cleared. Jellup made his way noisily toward the door, his face white with rage.
"Don't smell!" retorted Jellup. "Gas as don't smell? Well, that's agoin' some, I guess." Nevertheless, he had dropped the lid. But as quickly recovering himself he reached forward again and with a quick motion threw the top up and sprang back. To Ned's relief nothing happened. Either the light was too far away or the gas had all been removed by the hose.
"All I got to say, young uns," interrupted Jack Jellup, the marshal, "is that this 'ere town is yours." Jack's idea of hospitality was an invitation to the boys to visit the town saloons as his guest, but Ned arid Alan laughed and thanked him, pleading weariness as a reason for declining.
With headquarters established in the corral they would be near the balloon and its equipment, and if Jellup should permit his ill will to develop into some overt act, they would be in a position more easily to protect themselves.
In this he thought that Marshal Jack Jellup had followed Elmer, Bob and Buck and set fire to the wagons while his friends were asleep in camp. It was a relief to awaken and find that the flash of light was lightning and not, as he had imagined in his dream, an explosion of the gasoline carried in Buck's big wagon.
"Put 'em up, every one of you," he exclaimed; "do ye hear? Put 'em up." "Ye'r both under arrest," shouted Jellup to Ned and Bob. There was a quick explanation and then Mayor Bradley, still very stem of face, ordered everybody across the street to his office above the drug store. Men seemed to spring out of the ground, and the room was instantly packed to suffocation.
It wasn't a "picnic proposition." He didn't fear for himself, but the thought of his expensive and delicate outfit and of how easily it might be irreparably injured was not reassuring. "Russell," he said finally, "I think we need you. If you care to stay with us we'll be glad to have you. It isn't because I don't want to be bluffed by Jellup, but because you are game.
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