Then, she called sharply, "Jake!" There was a tramp of feet outside, and when a big grim-faced man looked in at the door, Courthorne decided it was time for him to effect his retreat while it could be done with safety.

He knew already that there were two doors to the saloon, and his fingers closed on the neck of a decanter.

Next moment it smote the new-comer on the chest, and while he staggered backwards with the fluid trickling from him, Courthorne departed through the opposite entrance.

Once outside, he mounted leisurely, but nobody came out from the hotel, and shaking the bridle with a little laugh he cantered out of the settlement.
In the meanwhile the other man carefully wiped his garments, and then turned to his companion.
"Now what's all this about ?" he asked.
The girl told him, and the man ruminated for a minute or two.

"Well, he's gone, and I don't know that I'm sorry there wasn't a circus here," he said.