the
man to whom he had given his last mouthful.

"Ah mean that Ah'm a United States deputy-marshal, and that Ah 'rest
you fo' retailing."

Von Rittenheim started, a motion that caused three hands to seek as
many pistol-pockets.

"You mean for selling to you last night that whisky to keep the cold
from you?"

"Correct. Of co'se you-all took yo' chances, 'n you struck the wrong
man."

Deputy-marshal Wilder chuckled complacently. He had made few captures
lately, and he counted on this to look well at headquarters. Besides,
he was having less trouble with the "big Dutchy" than he had expected.
Indeed, he had prepared his assistants for a hard fight.

"You mistake--I did not str-rike you--yet," said Friedrich,
misunderstanding. "But I compr-rehend that you arrest me, and for
what."

Von Rittenheim looked at Wilder with so much contempt that the man
turned away shamefaced. Still, the justice of his capture appealed to
the German, trained in the soldier's school, for it was true that he
had transgressed the law, and knowingly. That he should have yielded to
the weakness aroused his irritability.

"I am a fool," he ejaculated.

"You-all needn't say anything to incriminate yo'self," said the deputy,
more from habit than because the remark was appropriate.

"I go with you."

Von Rittenheim put on his hat. One of the men tinkled a pair of
handcuffs in his jacket-pocket, and raised his brows inquiringly at
Wilder. The latter nodded, though doubtfully. As he picked himself up
from the floor a little later he realized that his doubt was justified.
At the mere sight of the irons the Baron had flashed into fury. He
flung one man across the table with a violence that brought him several
minutes' quiet. The other rolled into a corner, and Wilder fell
altogether too near for comfort to the bricks of the fireplace.

As the deputy-marshal rose he felt von Rittenheim's grasp on his
throat.

"You understand not," he cried, his usually good English almost
unintelligible in his excitement, "You understand not--how, indeed,
should you?--that I am a gentleman. When I say I go with you, I go."

Giving him a shake as a final relief to his feelings, he added,
imperatively,--

"Come, pick up your fr-riends and let us start. You have a horse for
me?"

No one was disposed to make another attempt to handcuff the captive,
and the little detachment set out, headed by the prisoner, who had much
more the appearance of a leader than d