Eugene Manlove Rhodes

“ AT last, on a happy day, there came to the Judge's office, demanding and receiving brief audience, a fat man with an indictable face; a man disreputable, vast and unkempt, with a sloven's shoebrush for beard. Him, so propitiously ill-favored, Aughinbaugh dogged to Leo's satrapy. There Leo took cognizance of him and, after a window-breaking progress, companied him to Juarez. ”

“ Supper over, Leo loafed aimlessly; and so became involved in many games of pool with a person in a voluble plaid vest—who beat him shamefully. After this hanger-on had been encouraged a few times, a careless mention of the big man 'on the bat' elicited the information that the big man's name was Borrowman, that he was off his schedule by reason of his hilarity, since he usually did night work—running a stationary engine, the pool shark thought, or something like that—that he was a sulky swine and several other things.
Ballinger lost enough more games and departed to 'phone Aughinbaugh. ”

“ But when it comes to violent action I don't know which foot goes first."
"Easiest thing there is," said Pringle. "We'll put him wise by a personal. To morrow we'll keep out of sight for a day to give him time to see it. We'll get a hook, a line and a gun, wait till only one man is with Jeff, till Jeff is standing by the fire, and till he gives us the signal we mention in our little ad. Then we let the gun down the chimney to him and he'll do the rest. Why, it's the only way! There ain't no other way, and couldn't be. ”