Page:Cherokee Trails (1928).pdf/244

 that good shinbone, reckoned the probability of missing, as a man most always does when he tries hardest to hit, and passed it up.

"Oh, very well," he said lightly, not the slightest annoyance nor concern apparent in his voice, or his manner of lifting his chin, or the calm dignity of his face.

"Pile out!" the marshal directed.

He backed off a little as he spoke, to give himself unobstructed view of the prisoner's movements.

"Put your foot over on that breakbeam and hop down—and keep 'em up, keep 'em up!"

The marshal had come up on the left side of the wagon. He stood there with a lot of empty territory at his back, the wagon in front of him, the end of the freight car just a few jumps away. There wasn't anybody else in sight, not even the station agent. Tom put his foot over the side, which was a high straddle, feeling for the brakebeam, doing considerable thinking as he made the deliberate, cautious move. He managed to get to the ground without a fall, where the marshal closed up on him and ordered him to march.

"Now, hold on a minute, Mr. Marshal," Tom demurred, standing with hands lifted about on a level with his ears. "These horses are very-very skittish of trains. Better let me drive them over to the fence and hitch them, then I'll be at your service entirely."

"Hitch 'em to the ladder of that car," the marshal ordered, his meanness rising with his courage when he saw Simpson separated by ten feet or so from his gun. "I'll tend to them after I tend to you."

"Oh, very well. What's the game?"