At that minute Theodore King's car drew up in front of the shop, and he stepped out. Maudlin caught a glimpse of him and set his teeth sharply. He'd have it out with this man, too. They might as well all understand what his intentions were. He wondered if Morse, from his point of vantage, had seen Mr. King arrive.
When Theodore swung into the shop, he paused at the sight of Bates and frowned. He brought to mind the chastening he had given the fellow, and how Jinnie had suffered through his brutality.
Lafe smiled cordially at the young man and asked him to be seated.
"Jinnie's out," stated the cobbler.
"I know it!" responded Theodore, taking a chair. "I've come to have a talk with you." Then looking from Mr. Grandoken to Maudlin, he queried, "Will you soon be disengaged?"
Lafe nodded.
"I hope so," he said disinterestedly.
Lafe always disciplined himself after a siege with his temper.
"He won't be alone till I get through with 'im," grunted Maudlin, with an ugly expression. "I been tellin' 'im I'm goin' to marry Jinnie."
Lafe straightened with a throat sound that boded no good for the speaker, and Theodore got swiftly to his feet.
"Don't repeat what you've just said," the latter gritted between his teeth, whirling on Maudlin.
Bates shot out of his chair at this command.
"My tongue's my own," he roared, "and Jinnie'll be glad to marry me before----"
Theodore's big fist swept out, striking the man full in the face, and Maudlin dropped like an ox hit with an axe, but he was on his feet in another minute. His rapidly swelling face was blanched with rage.
"Damn you, twicet and three times damn you----"
Lafe made an ejaculation, and neither one of the three men noticed that the door to the little hall at the back had opened a trifle.
Jordan Morse was peering in upon the enraged trio. He saw the man he'd hired to help him take the first knock down and get up swiftly. He saw Theodore King make another dive at the wood gatherer. The cobbler was in direct range of Jordan's vision, and he slipped his hand into his pocket, from which he took a revolver. Two quick, short cracks, and the pistol came flying through the room and landed near the cobbler's bench. Then the kitchen door slammed suddenly. Theodore staggered forward and sank slowly to the floor, while Maudlin fell headlong without a cry.
As in a maze Lafe heard a motor leap away like a mad thing. Through the window he could see Theodore's car where the young man had left it. He made a desperate effort to rise, but sank back with a shuddering groan. He forced his eyes to Bates, who was close to the shop door, then dragged them backward to Mr. King, whose head was almost under his bench. Each had received a bullet, and both lay breathing unconsciously. The cobbler stooped over and placed his hand under Theodore's head to straighten it a little. For a full minute nothing was heard but the loud rattling in Maudlin's throat and the steady, laborious breath of the man at his feet.