It you haven't the nerve to tackle the job, then you're not a
man to give us orders!"
Tom's smiling good humor and his fair proposition had swung the balance
of feeling against the gambler. Duff saw that he had lost ground.
"Boy," called a few voices, "if Duff won't throw you out, then you turn
the tables and throw him out."
"It isn't necessary," laughed Tom. "After the tents are gone Duff won't
have any desire to remain around here. Mr. Duff, I ask you for the last
time, will you have your men take down the tents and remove them?"
"I won't!" snarled the gambler.
"Mr. Rivers!" called Tom.
"Yes, sir," replied the foreman, stepping forward.
"Mr. Rivers, take twenty-five laborers and bring the tents down at once.
Be careful to see that no damage is done. As soon as they are down you
will load them on the wagons."
"Yes, sir."
"On second thought, you had better take fifty men. See that the work is
done as promptly as possible."
The Mexicans, who were in the majority, and nearly all of whom were
wildly eager to gamble as soon as their money arrived, stirred uneasily.
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