Tom withdrew the hand, laughing.

“Much obliged, my friend,” mocked the young 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 feel like starting.  If you can thrash me then you shall be allowed to depart in peace after you’ve done it.”

Tom did not put up his hands, though he watched keenly to see whether the stranger meant to attack him.  The stranger muttered unintelligible threats, then he turned to the laborers pressing about him.