"What the hell are you crazy galoots doing to my machine!" he bellowed.
Before the aliens could answer there was another explosive sound, causing the crowd to jump back several steps. Quarters fell from the mouth of the machine, slowly at first, then at an alarming rate. The coins fell, bounced and rolled all over the floor. The crowd gulped with fascination.
"Holy catfish!" said one of the men, "how long since that blasted thing's paid off?"
"Looks like this is the first time," said one of the others.
"You guys keep quiet!" yelled Okie.
The coins continued to fall for what seemed like a record time. The crowd was spellbound. Okie watched in silent fury.
And the aliens were more confused than they had been when the machine wasn't paying off.
The one-armed bandit finally coughed out its last quarter. The three Bell Fruit wheels came to an abrupt halt, as though an inner spring had snapped. The machine broke down. Certain observers later reported that the poor thing actually looked exhausted.
The sheriff burst in the door with Nugget McDermott close behind.
"Sheriff, I want you to arrest these two tinhorns!" cried Okie.
"Tinhorns??" Sartan's face was creased with bewilderment.
"What's wrong, Okie?" asked the sheriff.
"Take a look for yourself! These two bugged my machine and then broke it down! Look at that money all over the floor!"
Toryl smiled. "We meant no harm, sir—"
"The hell you didn't mean no harm! You were out to rob me!"
"We were only ex-per-i-ment-ing—"
"There's their crooked experimenting right there!" said Okie, pointing a finger at the deactivated one-armed bandit. "I want them locked up until that machine's paid for!"
"All right," said the sheriff, "you two better come with me."
"But, sir," Sartan protested, "we merely wanted to know how the machine functioned. You see, we are from Capella and—"
"Capella!" exclaimed the sheriff. "Where is that? I never heard of the place."
"Well, it is not a part of your Earth."
"Oh, well why didn't you say so before!" The sheriff winked at the crowd. "You mean you boys are from out of this world?"
"That is correct," Sartan grinned proudly.
"Well, well! That makes a big difference!" The sheriff turned to the crowd. "All right, boys, grab them and hustle them over to the jail house!"
A group of men slowly closed in on the two aliens.
Toryl and Sartan backed away toward the wall.
"I believe they are angry, Brother," thought Sartan.
"But why?" inquired Toryl.
"I do not know. Do you suppose the machine represented some form of religious deity?"
"Exceed-ing-ly possible," Toryl answered.
As the men came closer Okie yelled, "Just get them two crackpots! I'll plug the first man that touches that money!"
The men were diverted by Okie's warning. They didn't notice, until it was almost too late, that the two strangers were halfway out the door.
"Get after them!!" the sheriff bellowed.
The aliens ran as though their lives were at stake, which was true, following the same route they had taken into town.
The crowd followed them as far as the edge of town. From there they hurled rocks.
Toryl and Sartan continued to run at breakneck speed, praying they would reach the safety of the ship. Once they looked behind them and saw that the crowd of angry men had given up the chase.
Halfway back to their ship they passed a sign, though they didn't bother to stop and read it.
YOU ARE NOW LEAVING JUBILATION, U.S.A.!!
The doggondest, cheeriest little town in America! Come back soon!!
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Jubilation, USA Page 2