troubled with police rules, kept the door wide open for the purpose of
inviting trade, a proceeding not to the liking of his patrons for
obvious reasons. Probably not one man in ten was fortunate enough to
have no one "looking for him," and the lighted interior assured good
hunting to any one in the dark street. He was continually opening the
door, which every newcomer promptly and forcibly slammed shut. When he
saw men walk across the room for the express purpose of slamming it he
began to cherish the idea that there was a conspiracy on foot to anger
him and thus force him to bring about his own death.

After the door had been slammed three times in one evening by one man,
the last slam being so forcible as to shake two bottles from the shelf and to crack
the door itself, he became positive that his suspicions were correct,
and so was very careful to smile and take it as a joke. Finally,
wearied by his vain efforts to keep it open and fearing for the door,
he hit upon a scheme, the brilliancy of which inflated his chest and
gave him the appearance of a prize-winning bantam. When his patrons
strolled in that night there was no door to slam, as it lay behind the
bar.

When Buck and Red entered, closely followed by Hopalong, they
elbowed their way to the rear of the room, where they could see before
being seen. As yet they had said nothing to Hopalong about Pie's
warning and were debating in their minds whether they should do so or
not, when Hopalong interrupted their thoughts by laughing. They looked
up and he nodded toward the front, where they saw that anxious eyes
from all parts of the room were focused on the open door. Then they
noticed that it had been removed.

The air of semi-hostile, semi-anxious inquiry of the patrons and the smile