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Page 72
Then he added, with a sigh:
"But I suppose that's only another lie--another specimen of a gambler's
honor."
"Stand aside, Bodson! Moore, you get out of the way!" snarled the
gambler, his anger again depriving him of all reason. "I'll have my way
with these young hounds before we string 'em up."
"Let me at 'em!" implored Ashby, fingering his shotgun nervously. "Get
out of my way. I don't want to pepper anyone else."
But Bodson and Moore, bad as they were some respects, stood their
ground.
"Are you going to let us at them?" insisted Duff, his voice now broken
and harsh from anger.
"Not for the purpose of bullying them!" insisted Rafe, without moving.
"Jeff, you're with me, aren't you?"
"Right by your side, pardner."
"Come on, then, boys!" called Duff, the note of rally in his tone.
"Help me to drive this pair of traitors out of your company."
Like a flash Bodson's revolver was in his band. The muzzle covered the
gambler.
"Jim Duff, down on your knees before I blow your bead off!"
The gambler started back, his face paling.
In the same instant Jeff Moore had also drawn his revolver, and held it
ready for the first hostile sign from anyone in the group.
"What's the matter with you, Rafe?" demanded the gambler, in a half-
coaxing tone.
"Nothing," Bodson assured him calmly, "except that I'm going to blow
your head off if you aren't down on your knees before I've counted
three! One--two--th--"
Duff dropped to his knees, holding his hands high in air.
"Now apologize for calling us traitors," admonished Rafe. "Do it
handsomely, too, while you're about it."
"Rafe," protested Jim Duff, "you, know that I said what I did only
because I was angry. I know you're a gentleman, and you know that I
know it. If I've hurt your feelings, I'm sorry, a thousand times over."
"Jim, you're a good deal of a sneak, aren't you?" inquired Rafe, in a
voice that sounded pleasant enough, but which carried a warning in its
tone.
"Yes," Duff admitted. "I guess I'm a good deal of a sneak."
"Get up on your feet, then. We understand one another," said Bodson.
"Go ahead, if you want to, and carry out your plans for a merry evening.
But don't make the mistake of calling ugly names again, and don't forget
all you've said about the square deal. Hang these tenderfeet, if that's
what you want to do, but don't hit men without first giving them a
chance to hit back."
Duff, shaking partly from fear, though more from a sense of his
humiliation, rose to his feet. For a moment he stood choking down his
varied emotions. Then, with an attempt at his old-time, suave banter,
he inquired:
"Are you young gentlemen ready for the collar and neck-tie party that
we've planned to give you?"
"As ready as you are," observed Tom dryly.
"And you?" asked Duff, turning to Hazelton. "Are you ready?"
"I'm not particular about feeling a lariat around my neck," Harry
answered, "but I'll follow my friend Reade anywhere--even where you
propose to send us."
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