BOLLINGER.  Shoot that nigger.

SARBER.  Shut up! [Smashes NIGGER in the mouth.

BOLLINGER. [To JIM.] Well, say—­[Pause.] That was a fine way for a sheriff to do,—­wasn’t it?

JIM.  I’ve resigned.

BOLLINGER.  I got your letter.  You hadn’t resigned last night; you know there’s a law for you, Mr. Radburn.

JIM.  That’s all right.

BOLLINGER. You’ll have to “do time.”

JIM. [Smiling.] When?

BOLLINGER.  This session—­you git a taste of the jug this morning.

JIM.  Not this morning!

BOLLINGER.  Well, we’ll see—­you go with us.

Murmur and start.

JIM. [Again in sudden warning.] Hold on, boys—­[Pause and recovery of calm.] I claim everything this side of the fence.  Now I know it ain’t sociable, but I don’t want you to come in.  Whenever the District Attorney gits his witnesses together, I’ll be there, but I won’t go this mornin’—­[Pause.] and anyhow I won’t go with such a mangy lot of heelers as you’ve scraped up this trip.

BOLLINGER.  I reckon you will, Jim.

Murmur and movement.

JIM.  Hold on—­[Pause, with both hands on guns.] I don’t want to break my record, but I’ll have to do it if you trespass on the lawn.

BOLLINGER. [Discreetly on stile.  After a pause.] I hope you don’t think we’re scared, Jim?

JIM.  No—­ain’t anything to be scared about, Tom—­as long as you stay outside.—­Keep off the grass.

BOLLINGER. [His irritation returning.  Threateningly.] And don’t you dare to draw a gun on any of us.  Say, Sarber—­go down to the Court House and git a warrant.  If you had a warrant we could walk right in.

MRS. VERNON. [Off.] Now, Kate, be careful.

Enter KATE and MRS. VERNON over the stile—­the MOB parting to admit them.

KATE.  What is the matter?  Jim!

JIM.  Won’t you come in?  Howdy, Mrs. Vernon?

KATE and MRS. VERNON come on.

KATE. [Anxiously.  To JIM.] What do these men want? [To BOLLINGER.]
What is the trouble here?

BOLLINGER. [Pointing at JIM.] Malfeasance.

KATE.  What?

BOLLINGER.  Why, Miss Kate, he gave his horse to a man he ought to have arrested—­a train-robber—­a murderer—­and—­

JIM.  Hold on, Bollinger—­man’s dead, and he used to be a friend to these ladies.

KATE. [Crosses to the MEN.] No—­do not speak of him—­we thought he was a friend—­but why do you accuse Mr. Radburn?

JIM.  No use talkin’, Kate, they know.

BOLLINGER.  You bet.

JIM.  Lizbeth’s inside—­you an’ Kate better go in, Mrs. Vernon.

KATE.  No.  Do you blame this man?

BOLLINGER.  Blame him!  Why, he’s an accessory after the fact, and maybe before—­I don’t see how he can git out of it!  Here’s his telegram, really better than a plea of guilty—­we ought to arrest him!