William Todd had rung the alarm.

The first thing to do was to find him.

After that there would be trouble--if not before.

It looked as if there would be trouble before.

The men tramping up to the muddy Square in their shirt-sleeves were bulgy about the right hips; and when Homer Tibbs joined Lum Landis at the hotel corner, and Landis saw that Homer was carrying a shot-gun, Landis went back for his.