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I'll be obliged to you if you'll come straight out and tell me what's in the air. I'm a square man and I like to know whether I'm dealing with square men or not." Lapelle sat up suddenly on the edge of the bed. Somehow, it seemed to Trentman, the greenish yellow had spread lightly over the rest of his face.
"Well, what of it?" "Does Lapelle know that Martin is in jail?" "Certainly, and he says he ought to be hung. That's what he thinks of Hawk. A man that would sell his own " "Hawk is in jail for stock-stealing, Mr. Trentman." "What's that got to do with the case? What's that got to do with your calling my friend a horse-thief?" "A whole lot, sir.
"I am a permanent citizen of this town and I have no quarrel with you. As your friend, I am obliged to inform you that Barry Lapelle is a dead shot and as quick as lightning with a pistol. I hope you will take this in the same spirit that it is given." "I thank you, sir," said Kenneth, courteously. "By the way, do you happen to have a pistol with you at present, Mr. Trentman?"
She had been unable to get the letter to him that day, and for a very good reason. Her messenger, Effie Wardlow's young brother, reached the tavern just in time to see Barry emerge, quite tipsy and in a vile temper, arguing loudly with Jack Trentman and Syd Budd, the town's most notorious gamblers. The three men went off toward the ferry.
"Am I to understand, sir, that you are referring to my friend as a horse-thief?" he demanded, bridling. "I merely asked you to take that message to him," said Kenneth coolly. "I might add cattle-thief, sheep-stealer, hog-thief or " "Why, good God, sir," gasped Mr. Trentman, "he'd shoot you down like a dog if I " "You may also tell Mr. Lapelle that his bosom friend Martin Hawk is in jail."
Trentman, with an apologetic wave of the hand, "but he was in some doubt as to who might have the honour to act for you, Mr. Gwynne, so he suggested that I come to you direct. If you will oblige me with the name of the friend who is to act as your second, I will make a point of apologizing for having accosted you in this manner, and also perfect the details with him."
"I haven't given the matter a moment's thought," said Kenneth, frowning. "Day after to-morrow morning, you say?" "Yes, sir." "Can't you arrange it for to-morrow morning?" Mr. Trentman spread out his hands in a deprecatory manner. "In view of the fact that you are expected to appear in court at nine to-morrow morning to defend an unfortunate girl, Mr.
"My regrets to your principal and my apologies to you, Mr. Trentman," said Kenneth, lifting his hat. The gambler raised his own hat. A close observer would have noticed a troubled, anxious gleam in his eye as he turned to retrace his steps in the direction of the square.
"Tell Jack that I am very much obliged to him," he said, and walked away. When he was safely out of hearing distance, Toby turned to the man at his side and remarked: "If what Barry Lapelle told me and Jack Trentman yesterday morning is true, there'll be the doggonedest scandal this town ever heard of." "What did he tell you?" inquired his neighbour eagerly.
Trentman entered a room at the end of the shanty, and there he found Lapelle reclining on a cot. Two narrow slits in a puffed expanse of purple grading off to a greenish yellow indicated the position of Barry's eyes. The once resplendent dandy was now a sorry sight. "Say," began Trentman, after he had closed the door, "I want to know just how things stand with you and Martin Hawk.
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