seless reiteration. "Th'
Lord help Billy! Holy Mackinaw!" he shouted. "Gimme a drink an' let me
tell th' boys."

The members of the outfit were told of the plot and they gave their
uproarious sanction, all needing bracers to sustain them.

Billy found the clerk swapping lies with the bartender and, procuring
the desired information, climbed the stairs and hunted for room No. 6.
Discovering it, he dispensed with formality, pushed open the door and
entered.

He found his friend engaged in conversation with a pretty young
woman, and on a couch at the far side of the room lay an elderly
white-whiskered gentleman who was reading a magazine. Billy felt like a
criminal for a few seconds and then there came to him the thought that
his was a mission of great import and he braced himself to face any
ordeal. "Anyway," he thought, "th' prettier they are th' more dust they
can raise."

"What are yu doing here?" Cried Hopalong in amazement.

"That's all right," averred the protector, confidentially.

"What's all right?"

"Why, everything," replied Billy, feeling uncomfortable.

The elderly man hastily sat up and dropped his magazine when he saw
the armed intruder, his eyes as wide open as his mouth. He felt for
his spectacles, but did not need them, for he could see nothing but the
Colt's which Billy jabbed at him.

"None of that!" snapped Billy. "'ands up!" he ordered, and the hands went
up so quick that when they stopped the jerk shook the room. Peering over
the gentleman's leg, Billy saw the spectacles and backed to the wall
as he apologized: "It's shore on me, Stranger--I reckoned yu was
contemplatin' some gun-play."

Hopalong, blazing with wrath, arose and shoved Billy toward the hail,
when Mr. Johnny Nelson, oozing fight and importance, intruded his person
into the zone of action.

"Lord!" ejaculated the newcomer, staring at the vision of female
loveliness which so suddenly greeted him. "Mamma," he added under his
breath. Then he tore off his sombrero: "Come out of this, Billy, yu
chump!" he exploded, backing toward the door, being followed by the
protector.

Hopalong slammed the door and turned to his hostess, apologizing for the
disturbance.

"Who are they?" Palpitated Miss Deane.

"What the deuce are they doing up here!" blazed her father. Hopalong
disclaimed any knowledge of them and just then Billy opened the door and
looked in.

"There he is again!" cried Miss Deane, and her father gasped. Hopalong
r