CHAPTER XIII
QUICK JUSTICE IN THE WEST
Jack Jellup, marshal and "bad man," was never more surprised in hislife. But Jack was no fool, and something in Ned Napier's eyes madethe westerner conclude instantly that he had unexpectedly andunquestionably "barked up the wrong tree." For a few moments themarshal and the young aeronaut stood facing each other and thenJellup sneered:
"Do you reckon you'd better run this town?"
"No, nor you," quietly answered Ned, "and if that's the way you aregoing to do it you can settle with me right now. I'm going to standon my rights."
He was conscious that Russell had hurried back and was behind him.Another second and there was a sharp click. Both Jellup and Nedturned to see the nervy young reporter with the torn suit case openon the ground at his feet. A snap shot camera was in his hand. Hisface was white, but there was a trace of his usual smile on it. Nedwanted to laugh too, but the situation was too serious.
"I've got you both," said Bob, a little nervously, "and if it's agood one I've got a dandy--'shooting up the town or the bad mancovered'--"
Had it not been for Ned's lightning-like action these might havebeen Bob's last words. Jellup's pistol had flashed once more, butas it dew into position Ned's own weapon rose with it under Jellup'sright hand and the marshal's shot passed over Bob's head. BeforeJellup and Ned could recover themselves Bob's camera was on theground and the reporter had his own revolver, which he had grabbedquickly from the suit case.
In the center of this group now stood, unarmed, Alan Hope and oldBuck. Almost at the same time a dozen men, attracted by the melee,had also intervened and had taken charge of the three excitedcombatants.
Pushing the crowd right and left appeared the stalwart form of MayorCurt Bradley, weaponless, but with the stem face of one who givesorders that cannot be ignored.
"Put 'em up, every one of you," he exclaimed; "do ye hear? Put 'emup."
"Ye'r both under arrest," shouted Jellup to Ned and Bob.
There was a quick explanation and then Mayor Bradley, still verystem of face, ordered everybody across the street to his officeabove the drug store. Men seemed to spring out of the ground, andthe room was instantly packed to suffocation. Marshal Jellup made aformal charge against the two boys of "resisting and interferingwith an officer" and then each told his story. The decision wasimmediate. Mayor Bradley ordered that both boys be released and thecourt be instantly cleared.
Jellup made his way noisily toward the door, his face white withrage. Apparently a number present were his friends and cronies, forthe looks of sympathy that he got turned into open murmurs ofdissent.
Mayor Bradley was on his feet at once.
"What's the matter?" he began incisively. "Is there some one herewho wants to appeal from my decision?"
The hubbub subsided but there wag no response.
"The time to make any complaint about my decision is right now andto me," went on the tall Bradley, looking over those in the room.
But no one apparently cared to take up Jellup's cause. When thespectators had gone the Mayor, who had sternly watched the slow exitof the last loiterer, turned to the boys.
"I thank you, Mr. Bradley," exclaimed Ned earnestly.
"And I want to thank both of you," quickly added Bob Russell, takingthe hand of each. "I'm the cause of this and I'm sorry. I guessyou saved my life twice," he added, wringing Ned's hand. "If ithadn't been for you the Comet certainly would never have heard fromme again. I guess that, puts all my obligation up to you."
"No," said Ned, "I can't let you say that. You have your own dutyjust as I have mine. We'll go over to the car and wait for the twoo'clock Limited. Then you are at liberty to go and write your storyand do its you like."
"He don't have to leave," interrupted the Mayor; "this is a freetown and it's going to be an orderly one."
"And I'm not going to," broke in Bob. "You've got yourself in amuss over me and some of these soreheads may try to make you moretrouble. If you'll let me, I'll stay to the end and if it comes toa mix-up I'm going to be right there with you."
Mayor Bradley smiled and old Buck slapped the reporter on the back.
"But how about the story you say you are going to write about us,"asked Alan.
"There wouldn't have been any story if it hadn't been for Mr.Napier," replied Bob. "And there isn't going to be one until hetells me to write it. It's up to him."
Ned was looking out of the window at the curious loungers standingin the street. He was thinking of the work yet to be done and ofall the difficulties that the discomfited marshal might put in hisway. It wasn't a "picnic proposition." He didn't fear for himself,but the thought of his expensive and delicate outfit and of howeasily it might be irreparably injured was not reassuring.
"Russell," he said finally, "I think we need you. If you care tostay with us we'll be glad to have you. It isn't because I don'twant to be bluffed by Jellup, but because you are game. If you'llgo with Buck and Elmer, I'll try to make it worth your while--sometime--and you shall be the historian of this expedition--when thetime comes to write its story."
Am hour later the delayed overland expedition was on its way towardthe desert. There had been a quick shopping expedition in thestores of Clarkeville and Bob Russell, in a new hat and boots andvarious other articles of clothing, most of them too large for him,sat proudly on the driver's seat of the second wagon. Around hiswaist was a new cartridge belt and holster carrying Ned's gift, a 44revolver--"for game or rattlesnakes," as the boys expressed it, butthe weapon was not concealed when the little cavalcade traversed themain street of the town, and if Jellup was an onlooker Ned felt surethat the outwitted marshal would think twice before again molestingthe expedition.
"All set," laughed Bob, as the final farewells had been said, and heheld up his camera, "now for the real thing."
Ned and Alan were now alone. To tell the truth, the excitement ofthe morning had been rather trying for them, but if it left them atrifle nervous they soon forgot their apprehension in making thelast of the transfer. There was now another reason for abandoningthe car. With headquarters established in the corral they would benear the balloon and its equipment, and if Jellup should permit hisill will to develop into some overt act, they would be in a positionmore easily to protect themselves. For that reason a number oftheir "greaser" assistants were taken to the car before noon and thehydrogen cask was loaded on the small wagon and carefully freightedto the corral. Then followed the remainder of the provisions andthe personal belongings of the boys. Early in the afternoon thePlacida was closed and turned over to the railway agent.