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"Hi, there!" he called, his voice harsh and strident "You fellers are

not invited to this picnic, an' there'll be soher"

The little bunch halted instantly just without the edge of the heavy

ti their faces up toward the speaker Evidently they

expected to be hailed, but not quite so soon

"Now, see here, Buck," answered one, taking a single step ahead of the

others, and hollowing his hand as a truh, "it don't

look to us fellers as if this affair was any of your funeral, nohow,

and we 've coive you a

fair show to pull out of it afore the real trouble begins Sabe?"

"Is thet so?"

The little marshal was too far away for them to perceive how his teeth

set beneath the bristly mustache

"You bet! The boys don't consider thet it's hardly the square deal

your takin' up agin 'em in this way They 'lected you marshal of this

yere ca with