At that
instant he was sure of what he saw in the faces of at least three of
the men confronting him; they were going to rush him together.
But now Joe Woods was on his feet again. Packard drew still further
back, getting the wall behind him. And then came a diversion. It was
Joe Woods speaking heavily:
"I fought him fair an' he licked me. Think I'm the kind of a she-man
as stands for you guys buttin' in on my fight? Stand back an' let him
go!"
"Blenham said--" screamed Hodges.
"Damn Blenham an' you, too," growled Woods. "It's my fight an' his.
Let him go!"
They let him go, drawing apart slowly. With watchful eyes Steve passed
down the little lane they made. At the door he turned, saying briefly:
"I'll see you in the morning, Woods!"
Then he went out.
CHAPTER X
A RIDE WITH TERRY
Returning at once to the Old Trusty, on the way passing Terry's car
which still stood in front of the store, Steve Packard asked for the
use of a telephone. Whitey nodded toward the office, a little room
thinly partitioned off from the larger. A moment later Barbee's voice
was answering from Ranch Number Ten.
"He's on the way, Barbee," said Steve quickly. "Left Red Creek just a
few minutes ago. I'll trail him. Give him the chance to prowl around
a little; try and find what he's after. But don't let him get away
with it! Understand? Shoot the legs out from under him if you have
to.
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