Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/142

 "‘And don't think this ruling means you have a day to riot in,' cautioned Tib, slowly.

"‘All right, Mr. Smith,' choked Mac.

"And the crowd went wild, sir; for Mac was their leader, and they saw Tib was playing no favorites. 'It 'll teach ye ter keep a clean tongue in yer head,' reproached Sausage Joe, the biggest coward in the camp. 'I'm ashamed that a man of yer years should act so.'

"Mac wheeled with fist drawn back, then grew limp. Water was in his eyes as he sobbed: 'Lad—ha, ha! Let's be merry! Lad, sometimes you stand in the valley of the shadow and don't know it. Oh, I wouldn't harm a fellow-creetur for a bushel of rewards of merit, but if—wow!' And he ran away from the chortling group as fast as his long legs would carry him.

"‘If I thought, boys, that any of you were deriding a worthy member of Red Ant, your cards wouldn't be good at the box-office for a week,' said Tib, softly.

"The teasing laughter was instantly squelched, and you never saw such sad faces in your life. But every now and then a man would go outside and cough violently.

"Well, sir, Tib's game swept 'em off their feet. It also swept away all-night parties, and the men began to send more dust home. A drunk was a