He sat in a
chair directly behind that of Hurley, and Pierre's new-found
acquaintance explained: "He's the bodyguard for Hurley. Maybe there's
some who could down Hurley in a straight gunfight; maybe there's one
or two like McGurk that could down Diaz--damn his yellow hide--but
there ain't no one can buck the two of 'em. It ain't in reason. So
they play the game together. Hurley works the cards and Diaz covers up
the retreat. Can't beat that, can you?"
Pierre le Rouge slipped his left hand once more inside his shirt until
the fingers touched the cross.
"Nevertheless, that game has to stop."
"Who'll--say, kid, are you stringin' me, or are you drunk? Look me in
the eye!"
CHAPTER 6
Pierre turned and looked calmly upon the other.
And the man whispered in a sort of awe: "Well, I'll be damned!"
"Stand aside!"
The other fell back a pace, and Pierre went straight to the table and
said to Cochrane: "Sir, I have come to take you home."
The old man looked up and rubbed his eyes as though waking from a
sleep.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55