and don't forget he's got a sister with a number two foot； damned if I don't
fix yuh both a…plenty！〃 He settled his hat more firmly over his curls； and
eyed Rowdy anxiously from under his lashes。
Rowdy caught the action and the look from the tail of his eye； and grinned
at his horse's ears。 Pink in warlike mood always made him think of a
four…year…old child playing pirate with the difference that Pink was always
in deadly earnest and would fight like a fiend。
For more reasons than one he hoped they would not meet Harry Conroy。 Jessie
was still in ignorance of his real attitude toward her brother； and Rowdy
wanted nothing more than to keep her so。 The trouble was that he was quite
certain to forget everything but his grievances； if ever he came face to
face with Harry。 Also； Pink would always fight quicker for his friends than
for himself； and he felt very tender toward Pink。 So he hoped fervently
that Harry Conroy had already ridden back whence he came； and there would be
no unpleasantness。
Four or five Cross L horses stood meekly before the Come Again Saloon； so
Rowdy and Pink added theirs to the gathering and went in。 The Silent One
looked up from his place at a round table in a far corner； and beckoned。
〃We need another hand here；〃 he said； when they went over to him。 〃These
gentlemen are worried because they might be taken into high society some
day； and they would be placed in a very embarrassing position through their
ignorance of bridge…whist。 I have very magnanimously consented to teach them
the rudiments。〃
Bob Nevin looked up； and then lowered an eyelid cautiously。 〃He's a liar。 He
offered to learn us how to play it； we bet him the drinks he didn't savvy
the game himself。 Set down； Pink； and I'll have you for my pretty pardner。〃
The Silent One shuffled the cards thoughtfully。 〃To make it seem like
bona…fide bridge；〃 he began； 〃we should have everybody playing。〃
〃Aw； the common； ordinary brand is good enough；〃 protested Bob。 〃I ain't in
on any trimmings。〃
The Silent One smiled ever so slightly。 〃We should have prizesor favors。
Is there a store in town where one could buy something suitable？〃
〃They got codfish up here； I smelt it；〃 suggested Jim Ellis。 Him the Silent
One ignored。
〃What do you say； boys； to a real； high society whist…party？ I'll invite the
crowd； and be the hostess。 And I'll serve punch〃
〃Come on； fellows； and have one with me；〃 called a strange voice near the
door。
〃Meeting's adjourned；〃 cried Jim Ellis； and got up to accept the invitation
and range along the bar with the rest。 He had not been particularly
interested in bridge…whist anyway。
The others remained seated； and the bartender called across to know what
they would have。 Pink cut the cards very carefully； and did not look up。
Rowdy thrust both hands in his pockets and turned his square shoulder to the
bar。 He did not need to lookhe knew that voice； with its shoddy
heartiness。
Men began to observe his attitude； and looked at one another。 When one is
asked to drink with another； he must comply or decline graciously； if he
would not give a direct insult。
Harry Conroy took three long steps and laid a hand on Rowdy's shouldera
hand which Rowdy shook off as though it burned。 〃Say； stranger； are you too
high…toned t' drink with a common cowpuncher？〃 he demanded sharply。
Rowdy half…turned toward him。 〃No； sir。 But I'll be mighty thirsty before I
drink with you。〃 His voice was even； but it cut。
The room stilled on the instant； it was as if every man of them had turned
to lay figures。 Harry Conroy had winced at sight of Rowdy's facemen saw
that； and some of them wondered。 Pink leaned back in his chair； every nerve
tightened for the next move； and waited。 It was Harryhandsome； sneering； a
certain swaggering defiance in his pose who first spoke。
〃Oh； it's you； is it？ I haven't saw yuh for some time。 How's
bronco…fighting？ Gone up against any more contests？〃 He laughed
mockinglywith mouth and eyes maddeningly like Jessie's in teasing mood。
Rowdy could have killed him for the resemblance alone。 His lids drooped
sleepily over eyes that glittered。 Harry saw the sign； read it for danger；
but he laughed again。
〃Yuh ought to have seen this bronco…peeler pull leather； boys；〃 he jeered
recklessly 〃I like to 'a' died。 He got piled up the slickest I ever saw； and
there was some feeble…minded Canucks had money up on him； too： He won't
drink with me； 'cause I got off with the purse。 He's got a grouchand I
don't know as I blame him； he did get let down pretty hard； for a fact。〃
〃Maybe he did pull leatherbut he didn't cut none； like you did； you damn'
skunk！〃 It was PinkPink； with big； long…lashed eyes purple with rage； and
with a dead…white streak around his mouth； and a gun in his hand。
Harry wheeled toward him； and if a new light of fear crept into his eyes；
his lips belied it in a sneer。 〃Two of a kind！〃 he laughed。 〃So that's the
story yuh brought over here； is it？ Hell of a lot uh good it'll do yuh！〃
Something in Pink's face warned Rowdy。 Harry's face turned watchfully from
one to the other。 Evidently he considered Pink the more uncertain of the
two； and he was quite justified in so thinking。 Pink was only waiting for a
cue before using his gun； and when Pink once began； there was no telling
where or when he would leave off。
While Harry stood uncertain； Rowdy's fist suddenly spatted against his cheek
with considerable force。 He tumbled； a cursing heap； against the foot…rail
of the bar； scrambled up like a cata particularly vicious catand came at
Rowdy murderously。 The Come Again would shortly have been filled with the
pungent haze of burned powder； only that the bartender was a man…of…action。
He hated brawls； and it did not matter to him how just might be the quarrel；
he slapped the gaping barrels of a sawed…off shotgun across the barand from
the look of it one might imagine many disagreeable things。
〃Drop it！ Cut it out！〃 he bellowed。 〃Yuh ain't going t' make no
slaughter…pen out uh this joint； I tell yuh。 Put up them guns or else take
'em outside。 If you fellers are hell…bent on smokin' each other up； they's
all kinds uh room outdoors。 Git！ Vamose！ Hike！〃
Conroy wheeled and walked； straight…backed and venomous； to the door。 〃Come
on out； if yuh ain't scared；〃 he sneered。 〃It's two agin' one and then some；
by the look uh things。 But I'll take yuh singly or in bunches。 I'm ready for
the whole damn' Cross L bunch uh coyotes。 Come on； you white…livered！〃
Rowdy rushed for him； with Pink and the Silent One at his heels。 He had
forgotten that Harry Conroy ever had a sister of any sort whatsoever。 All he
knew was that Harry had done him much wrong； of the sort which comes near to
being unforgivable； and that he had sneered insults that no man may
overlook。 All he thought of was to get his hands on him。
Outside； the dusky stillness made all sounds seem out of place； the faint
starlight made all objects black and unfamiliar。 Rowdy stopped； just off the
threshold； blinking at the darkness which held his enemy。 It was strange
that he did not find him at his elbow； he thoughtand a suspicion came to
him that Harry was lying in wait； it would be like him。 He stepped out of
the yellow glare from a window and stood in more friendly shade。 Behind him；
on the door…step； stood the other two； blinking as he had done。
A form which he did not recognize rushed up out of the darkness and
confronted the three belligerently。 〃You're a…disturbin' the peace；〃 he
yelled。 〃We don't stand for nothing like that in Camas。 You're my
prisonersall uh yuh。〃 The edict seemed to include even the bartender；
peering over the shoulder of Bob Nevin； who struggled with several others
for immediate passage through the doorway。
〃I guess not； pardner；〃 retorted Pink； facing him as defiantly as though the
marshal were not twice his size。
The marshal lunged for him； but the Silent One； reaching a long arm from the
door…step； rapped him smartly on the head with his gun。 The marshal squawked
and went down in a formless heap。
〃Come on； boys；〃 said the Silent One coolly。 〃I think we'd better go。 Your
friend seems to have vanished in thin air。〃
Rowdy； grumbling mightily over what looked unpleasantly like retreat； was
pushed toward his horse and mounted under protest。 Likewise Pink； who was
for staying and cleaning up the whole town。 But the Silent One was firm； and
there was that in his manner which compelled obedience。
Harry Conroy might have been an opticaland auralillusion； for all the
trace there was of him。 But when the three rode out into the little street；
a bullet pinged close to Rowdy's left ear； and the red bark of a revolver
spat viciously from a black shadow beside the Come Again。
Rowdy and the two turned and rode back； shooting blindly at the place； but
the shadow yawned silently before them and gave no sign。 Then the Silent
One； observing that the marshal was getting upon a pair of very unsteady
legs； again assumed the leadership； and fairly forced Rowdy and Pink into
the homeward trail。
CHAPTER 7
Rowdy in a Tough Place。
Rowdy； with nice calculation； met Miss Conroy just as she had left the
school…house； and noted with much satisfaction that she was riding alone。
Miss Conroy； if she had been at all observant； must have seen the light of
some fixed purpose shining in his eyes； for Rowdy was resolved to make her a
partner in his dreams of matters domestic。 And； of a truth； his easy
assurance was the thinnest of cloaks to hide his inner agitation。
〃The round…up just got in yesterday afternoon；〃 he told her； as he swung
into the trail beside her。 〃We're going to start out again to…morrow； so
this is about the only chance I'll have to see you for a while。〃
〃I knew the round…up must be in；〃 said Miss Conroy calmly。 〃I heard that you
were in Camas a night or two ago。〃
Inwardly； Rowdy dodged。 〃We camped close to Camas；〃 he conceded guardedly。
〃A lot of us fellows rode into town。〃
〃Yes； so Harry told me；〃 she said。 〃He came over to see me yesterday。 He is
going to leavehas already； in fact。 He has had a fine position offered him
by the Indian agent at Belknap。 The agent used to be a friend of