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"You seem to be a little sudden about it," Lambert said, a lazy drawl to his words that inflamed Hargus like a blow. "Not half as sudden as you'll be, kid. This country ain't no place for you, young feller; you're too fresh to keep in this hot climate, and the longer you stay the hotter it gits. I'll give you just two days to make your gitaway in."
He fired before Hargus touched the trigger, his elbow to his side as he had seen Jim Wilder shoot on the day when tragedy first came into his life. Hargus spun on his heel as if he had been roped, spread his arms, his gun falling from his hand; pitched to his face, lay still. The two on horses galloped out and opened fire.
"If Hargus could come to life now, he'd be surprised at the difference in the way we do business these days. Twenty years. Yes, it's all of that. I declare, Sam, we're getting old, aren't we?" "I guess that was Hargus you saw out there," answered the broker. "He's not dead. Old fellow in a stove-pipe and greasy frock coat? Yes, that's Hargus." "What!" exclaimed Jadwin. "That Hargus?"
You ruined him to save your own dirty hide, and all his life since poor old Hargus has been living off the charity of the boys down here, pinched and hungry and neglected, and getting on, God knows how; yes, and supporting his little niece, too, while you, you have been loafing about your clubs, and sprawling on your steam yachts, and dangling round after your kept women on the money you stole from him."
Kerr sat looking speculatively into the glowing pit below, the firelight red over him in strong contrast of gleam and shadow. Sim Hargus leaned to look Lambert in the face. "You said I was to consider the two days I give you was up," said he. "You understood it right," Lambert told him. Hargus drew back his fist. Kerr interposed, speaking sharply.
"See how you like that now." He took out his watch. "You'll be running in to me in just about ten minutes' time." He turned about, and calling a clerk, gave orders to have Hargus found and brought to him. When the old fellow appeared Jadwin jumped up and gave him his hand as he came slowly forward.
Kerr found the request reasonable, and ordered Hargus to tie Lambert's hands at his back. "I guess you might as well take your last ride comfortable, kid," Hargus commented, as he shifted the bonds. They proceeded at a trot, keeping it up for two hours or more. Lambert knew it was about ten o'clock when he stopped to investigate the man in the road.
He dashed it to the ground as a libation, smiling like one moonstruck, a flood of soft fancies making that bleak spot dear. Taterleg was finding things easier on his side of the ranch. Nick Hargus was lying still, no hostile acts had been committed.
Since then all deals had been spoken of in terms of the Hargus affair. Speculators said, "It was almost as bad as the Hargus deal." "It was like the Hargus smash." "It was as big a thing as the Hargus corner." Hargus had become a sort of creature of legends, mythical, heroic, transfigured in the glory of his millions. "Easily twenty years ago," continued Jadwin.
It was so still in the barroom that one could have heard a match burn. Lambert had drawn himself up stiff and straight before Hargus, and stood facing him with defiance in every line of his stern, strong face. "I've give you your rope," Hargus said, feeling that he had been called to show his hand in an open manner that was not his style, and playing for a footing to save his face.
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