"I'm sorry, Mr. Reade, but I can't have you any longer at this hotel,"
began Ashby.

"Any particular reason?" Tom inquired, looking the man straight in the
eye.

"Yes; some of my other guests object to your presence here."

"Meaning Jim Duff?" questioned Reade coolly.

"I don't care to discuss the matter with you, Mr. Reade, but I can't
entertain you here any longer."

"Does that apply even to this meal, Mr. Ashby?"

"It does."

"Very good," nodded Tom, rising. Harry and Hawkins shoved their chairs
back, too, and stood up.

"Say, but I don't like the looks of that!" announced a voice from
another table. There were five men seated there, all of them well-
dressed and prosperous-looking traveling salesmen, who had arrived that
morning.

"This is a very regrettable necessity on my part, gentlemen," began
Proprietor Ashby hurriedly, and plainly ill at ease. "Some of my
regular guests object to the presence of these young men, and so--"

"These young gentlemen have gotten in bad by objecting to having their