ng chief engineer. "You've
confessed all that I wanted to know. You've tried to charge me the price
of a pint of liquor sold in single drinks. That confesses that you've been
in camp to sell liquor to the men. I shall pay you nothing, for you're
here against the law and against the camp regulations. You're engaged in
selling liquor illegally. If I catch you in camp again on that business,
my friend, I'll arrest you and hold you until the officers come over from
Blixton and take you."

Then, in the next moment, Tom suddenly shot out:

"Harry, see to it that our friend doesn't run away just yet!"

"What are you up to?" demanded the man, as Tom stepped close once more,
while Harry rested a hand on his shoulder.

"For a rather warm evening," Reade rejoined, "it strikes me that it's a bit
odd for you to be wearing a long top-coat. I'm going to look you over a
bit."

"You get out and keep away from me!" blustered the man, raising one of his
fists. But Harry caught at that arm and held it. Treasurer Prenter, who
had been looking on with keen interest, seized the other arm.

"You let go of me, or you'll run up against the law for assault!" warned
the stranger.

His captors, however, held him, while Tom rapidly ran his hands over the
stranger's clothing. As a result, within less than a full minute, Tom had
removed two full quart bottles and six smaller ones from the fellow's
various pockets. All of these the young chief engineer threw on the
ground, smashing them.

From the crowd gathered about, which numbered more than sixty men of three
different races, a howl went up. President Bascomb began to shiver.

"I'll make you sweat for this!" raved the stranger.

"Let go of the fellow, please," said Tom. Then, as Harry and Mr. Prenter
stepped aside, Reade added, "I'll admit, Mr. Bootleg, that I've behaved in
a rather high-handed fashion with you. But I'm justified in doing it. You
have been breaking the law of the state, moving through this camp and
selling liquor. You represent the scum of the otherwise decent population
of Alabama. If you think you've any redress in the courts, my name is
Reade and you can hire a lawyer and get after me as hard and as fast as
you like."

"I'll take personal satisfaction out of you!" stormed the fellow.

"All right," Tom agreed laconically. "You may start now, if you feel like
doing it. I'll agree that none of my friends or workmen shall take any
part in anything you