There came a brief interval in which the men, swooping down on the captive, concealed him from the view of others.
Out of this crush soon came order. Then it was seen that Ashby had been roped securely and was being led back to the railroad camp.
“We've got the scoundrel, with four ropes hitched to him,” called one of the captors.
“One rope will be enough as soon as we can find a tree.”
The party was riding into the railroad camp now, and a dense crowd pressed forward to see the face of the keeper of the Mansion House.
Ashby was chuckling gleefully. If any fear of the consequences of his lawless behavior oppressed him, he was far from betraying the fact.
“Be gentle with him, friends,” Tom urged, riding forward.
“Yes; we ought to be gentle with every rattlesnake,” came an answer from the crowd.
“You can't hurt me, neighbors,” declared the hotel man. “I'm bullet proof. Any man who fires at me will find that the bullet will rebound and bit him. Tie me up to a tree, if you like. You'll find that I won't choke. I'll just slide back to earth as often as you tie me up.”
“What do you think?” demanded Mr. Ellsworth from the car.
“The man's as mad as a March hare,” replied Reade.
“Humph! He's merely shamming,” retorted the general manager.
“Stow the funny business, Ashby!” came the advice from the crowd. “You can't fool us into believing that you're crazy.”
“Crazy?” repeated the hotel man, a look of amazement creeping into his face. “Of course I'm not crazy. I'm the only sane man in this crowd.”
Men began to look wonderingly at the hotel man, though many still believed that Ashby was cleverly shamming insanity in order to save his neck from being stretched.
“Doe Furniss! Come over here!” called Reade. “Gentlemen, this is a question for Doe Furniss. Don't think of doing anything to the fellow until you've heard from Doc. Make way for the doctor, gentlemen.”
At a sign from Dr. Furniss the captors led Ashby's horse onward until the office shack was reached. Here two men freed the captive from his horse and led him inside. Dr. Furniss followed them and the door was closed.
“Let's get away from here,” urged Tom Reade. “A big crowd hanging about is sure to excite the poor fellow.”
“Reade, you're too soft and easy,” grunted a Paloma man in the crowd. “The only thing that makes Ashby crazy is that he didn't get you.”