The crestfallen Falins dispersed the other way after they had
taken a parting shot at the Hon. Samuel Budd, who, too, had a
pistol in his hand. Young Buck looked long at him--and then he
laughed:
"You, too, Sam Budd," he said. "We folks'll rickollect this on
election day." The Hon. Sam deigned no answer.
And up in the store Devil Judd lighted his pipe and sat down to
think out the strange code of ethics that governed that police-
guard. Hale had told him to wait there, and it was almost noon
before the boy with the cap came to tell him that the Falins had
all left town. The old man looked at him kindly.
"Air you the little feller whut fit fer June?"
"Not yet," said Bob; "but it's coming."
"Well, you'll whoop him."
"I'll do my best."
"Whar is she?"
"She's waiting for you over at the boarding-house."
"Does she know about this trouble?"
"Not a thing; she thinks you've come to take her home." The old
man made no answer, and Bob led him back toward Hale's office.
June was waiting at the gate, and the boy, lifting his cap, passed
on. June's eyes were dark with anxiety.
"You come to take me home, dad?"
"I been thinkin' 'bout it," he said, with a doubtful shake of his
head.
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