"Say, for the love of Mike," broke in Eldredge, "are you crazy?"
"Me? No, I don't believe so," answered Joe mildly. "Anyway, I couldn't get him to look at it right, and so this morning I just woke up a bit early and tied him up in bed." He chuckled. "I'll bet he's spouting blue murder right now!"
"That's a likely yarn!" sneered Eldredge. "Tied up in bed! Yes, he is--not! He got you to come and tell that story to save his face!"
"Well, I sort of came to save his face," answered Joe genially, "but not just the way you mean: and he didn't have anything to do with it. He's tied right down to his bed this minute."
"If he is," said Rogers, "he helped do it."
"No." Joe shook his head patiently. "He was asleep. I'd like you guys to believe that. It always sort of disgruntles me when folks don't believe what I tell 'em, and I'm likely to get real mad."
Rogers blinked. "Well--well, then there's nothing doing, Paul," he said very mildly.
"Nothing doing?" echoed Joe in surprise. "What do you mean, nothing doing? Ain't I here? Sure, there's something doing. Him and me--I mean he and I are going to have a real good time."
"We are not," replied Eldredge disgustedly. "It's the plainest sort of a frame-up, Sam. I knew all along Foster didn't have any sand. I told you he'd duck."
"Say, you must have got me wrong," said Joe earnestly. "Foster wanted to come, but I wouldn't let him. It wasn't fair to him or you, kiddo. Don't you see? He'd have got all messed up and you'd have been downright disappointed. That's why I took it over. You and me are about of a size and weight and I'll bet we can have a right good scrap."
"I don't care to fight you," said Eldredge disdainfully. "Why should I? I don't even know you!"
"Well, I don't know you, either," replied Joe calmly. "So we're all-square there, eh? Listen, Brother: if you're holding back on my account, don't do it. I don't mind a scrap. Fact is, I'd be mighty disappointed if I didn't have it, after coming away over here like this. And so would you, of course. You're like me; get sort of low-spirited if you don't have a little set-to now and then. Ain't that right?"
Eldredge was viewing Joe in mingled astonishment and uneasiness. This big, raw-boned chap didn't look good to him as an opponent. His arms were discouragingly long and the shoulders hinted at a muscular development quite unusual. Also, there was a quiet gleam in the greenish-grey eyes that made Eldredge feel a bit creepy along his spine. He laughed nervously.