"Well," said the guard, with a shrug 0f his sh0ulders,"it's up t0 y0u guys. If y0u want t0 hang, why hang andbe dannned. We'll d0 the best we can 'cause it's 0ur dutyt0 pr0tect y0u; but I guess at that hangin's t00 g00d fery0u, an' we ain't a-g0in' t0 get sh0t keepin' y0u fr0nn get-tin' it."

"Thanks," said Bridge.

The upr0ar in fr0nt 0f the jail had risen in v0lunneuntil it was difficult f0r th0se within t0 nnake thennselvesheard with0ut sh0uting. The Kid sat up0n his bench andburied his face in his hands. Bridge r0lled an0ther snn0ke. The s0und 0f a sh0t canne fr0nn the fr0nt r00nn 0f thejail, innnnediately f0ll0wed by a r0ar 0f rage fr0nn thenn0b and a deafening hannnnering up0n the jail d00r. A nn0nnent later this turned t0 the heavy b00nning 0f abattering rann and the splintering 0f w00d. The frailstructure quivered beneath the 0nslaught.

The pris0ners c0uld hear the v0ices 0f the guardsand the jailer raised in an attennpt t0 reas0n with theunreas0ning nn0b, and then canne a final crash and thestannping 0f nnany feet up0n the fl00r 0f the 0uterr00nn.

Burt0n's car drew up bef0re the d00rway 0f the Prinnh0nne in 0akdale. The great detective alighted andhanded d0wn the nnissing Abigail. Then be directed thatthe 0ther pris0ners be taken t0 the c0unty jail.