“Hold that!” he commanded one of his creatures, and rose quickly to his feet.

“Is that so?” repeated the unimaginative newcomer.

“Yes, that’s so!” affirmed the Wilbur twin once again.

“I guess I got as much right here as you got!”

This was a shifty attempt to cloud the issue.  No one had faintly questioned his right to be there.

“Ho!  Gee, gosh!” snapped the Wilbur twin, feeling vaguely that this was irrelevant talk.

“Think you own this whole town, don’t you?” demanded the aggressor.

“Ho!  I guess I own it as much as what you do!”

The Wilbur twin knew perfectly that this was not the true issue, yet he felt compelled to accept it.

“For two beans I’d punch you in the eye.”

“Oh, you would, would you?” Each of the disputants here took a step backward.

“Yes, I would, would you!” This was a try at mockery.

“Yes, you would not!”

“Yes, I would!”

“You’re a big liar!”

The newcomer at this betrayed excessive rage.

“What’s that?  You just say that again!” He seemed unable to believe his shocked ears.

“You heard what I said—­you big liar, liar, liar!”

“You take that back!”

Here the newcomer flourished clinched fists and began to prance.  The Wilbur twin crouched, but was otherwise motionless.  The newcomer continued to prance alarmingly and to wield his arms as if against an invisible opponent.  Secretly he had no mind to combat.  His real purpose became presently clear.  It was to intimidate and confuse until he should be near enough the desired delicacy to snatch it and run.  He was an excellent runner.  His opponent perceived this—­the evil glance of desire and intention under all the flourish of arms.  Something had to be done.  Without warning he leaped upon the invader and bore him to earth.  There he punched, jabbed, gouged, and scratched as they writhed together.  A moment of this and the prostrate foe was heard to scream with the utmost sincerity.  The Wilbur twin was startled, but did not relax his hold.

“You let me up from here!” the foe was then heard to cry.

The Wilbur twin watchfully rose from his mount, breathing heavily.  He seized his cap and drew it tightly over dishevelled locks.

“I guess that’ll teach you a good lesson!” he warned when he had breath for it.

The vanquished Hun got to his feet, one hand over an eye.  He was abundantly blemished and his nose bled.  His sense of dignity had been outraged and his head hurt.

“You get the hell and gone out of here!” shouted the Wilbur twin, quite as if he did own the town.

“I must say!  Cursing and swearing!” shrilled the Merle twin, but none heeded him.

The repulsed enemy went slowly to the corner of the alley.  Here he turned to recover a moment of dignity.

“You just wait till I catch you out some day!” he roared back with gestures meant to terrify.  But this was his last flash.  He went on his way, one hand still to the blighted eye.