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Whatever kept him away through those six years, the memory of the wound he received at Gaffney's place never left McGurk, and now he was coming back with a single great purpose in his mind, and in his heart a consuming hatred for Pierre and all the other of Boone's men.
Trooper Gaffney was the household cook for the time being, and a good one. The coffee was excellent, despite the fact that Gaffney could get no cream, and condensed milk was the only substitute obtainable. The steak was juicy and tender, as the finest of the contractor's beef was sure to go to the agency itself, and Gaffney's soda biscuits were enticing, whatsoever might be the after-effect.
Whatever kept him away through those six years, the memory of the wound he received at Gaffney's place never left McGurk, and now he was coming back with a single great purpose in his mind, and in his heart a consuming hatred for Pierre and all the other of Boone's men.
"Albert Gaffney's at the warehouse now," he announced. "I've just had a word with him. He found the taxi-cab driver an hour ago, and he got the information he wanted. And I'm afraid it's nothing!" "What is it, anyhow?" asked the chief, with a smile. "Perhaps Albert Gaffney doesn't know its value." "The man drove them, all four, to the corner of Whitechapel Church," said Appleyard.
Before they were in their saddles and up with him, he'd be a full three miles out in the hills. Not even black Thunder could make up as much ground as that. So all the fifteen miles to Gaffney's place he urged his horse. The excitement of the race kept the thought of McGurk back in his mind. Only once he lost time when he had to pull up beside a buckboard and inquire the way.
And so the two Gaffneys went off on their respective missions, and Allerdyke looked at his manager and made a grimace. "It's like a lot of blind men seeking for something they couldn't see if it was shoved under their very noses, Ambler!" he said cynically. "Is it any good?" "Maybe," replied Appleyard. "That Albert Gaffney's a smart chap he'll not lose sight of Rayner once he begins to track him.
James had always been accustomed to carrying a considerable sum of money on him; Gaffney's search had brought a considerable sum to light. James also wore a very valuable watch and chain and two fine diamond rings; there they all were. Not robbery no; at least, not robbery of the ordinary sort. But had there been robbery of another, a bigger, a subtle, and deep-designed sort?
I will be at Gaffney's place about fifteen miles from here. You know it? Send your answer there. In the mean time" he stepped forward to the table and poured a small drink of whiskey into a glass and raised it high "here's to the long health and happiness of us all. Drink!" There was a hasty pouring of liquor. "And you also!" Pierre jumped as if he had been struck, and obeyed the order hastily.
At supper in Gaffney's he related to Susan and Estelle how he had won his greatest victory the victory of Terry the Cyclone, that had lifted him up into the class of secure money-makers. He told how he always tried to "rattle" his opponent by talking to him, by pouring out in an undertone a stream of gibes, jeers, insults.
After that he flew on again. Yet as he clattered up to the door of Gaffney's crossroads saloon and swung to the ground he looked back and saw a cluster of horsemen swing around the shoulder of a hill and come tearing after him. Surely his time was short. He thrust open the door of the place and called for a drink. The bartender spun the glass down the bar to him. "Where's McGurk?"
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