Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/20

 euchre deck,' retorted Tib, grandly. Then he tipped us the cue and we all burst into a few sweet strains of song, as sung in the ensemble of 'The Dear Gazelle,' It fetched 'em, sir. It fetched 'em to their knees. They grovelled. I guess they'd have chucked the whole blooming revolution for reserved seats in our show. But Tiberius had made up his mind to act the conqueror, and he told Jones to take us to the most pretentious habitation in town, that he might confiscate it for government purposes. A miserable little hotel, built to accommodate about fifteen, was the best thing in this line, and into it we went, while all the regular boarders departed via the back door.

"'But what about weapons?' persisted Jones, dubiously.

"Tiberius pondered thoughtfully, and Hanscom, the pirate, tapped the hardware in his belt and said, 'We've got them all here.'

"'We have the kinetograph,' reminded Tiberius.

"'What's that? A machine-gun?' cried Jones, eagerly.

"Tiberius looked at him sadly and then explained it was merely a device to throw moving-pictures on a screen.

"'But pictures won't hurt 'em,' bemoaned Jones.

"'No,' cried Tiberius, exultantly, 'but it 'll scare 'em like the deuce. Why, man, in that one big box