He turned on the ladder to face them, and still he kept the arms automatically above his head while he descended to the floor.

However, on a closer examination, these two did not seem particularly formidable.

They were both quite young, one with dark-red hair and a somewhat overbright eye; the other was hardly more than a boy, very slender, delicately made, the sort of handsome young scoundrel whom women cannot resist.
Having made these observations, McGuire ventured to lower his arms by jerks; nothing happened; he was safe.

So he vented his feelings by scowling on the strangers.
"Well," he snapped, "what's up?
Too late for business.

I'm closin' up." The two quite disregarded him.