Part 33 (1/2)
Then you are to say to him these words, 'Don't forget the blood on the knife, Hawk Kennedy.'”
”'Don't forget the blood on the knife, Hawk Kennedy,'” murmured Peter in amazement. And then, ”But suppose he wants to tell me a lot of things you don't want me to know----”
”I'll have to risk that,” put in McGuire grimly. ”I want you to watch him carefully, Nichols. Are you pretty quick on the draw?”
”What do you mean?”
”I mean, can you draw your gun and shoot quickly--surely? If you can't, you'd better have your gun in your pocket, keep him covered and at the first sign, shoot through your coat.”
Peter took out his revolver and examined it quizzically. ”I thought you said, Mr. McGuire,” he put in coolly, ”that I was not to be required to do anything a gentleman couldn't do.”
”Exactly,” said the old man jerkily.
”I shouldn't say that shooting a defenseless man answers that requirement.”
McGuire threw up his hands wildly.
”There you go--up in the air again. I didn't say you were to shoot him, did I?” he whined. ”I'm just warning you to be on the lookout in case he attacks you. That--that's all.”
”Why should he attack me?”
”He shouldn't, but he might be angry because I didn't come myself.”
”I see. Perhaps you'd better go, sir. Then you can do your killing yourself.”
McGuire fell back against the table, to which he clung, his face gray with apprehension, for he saw that Peter had guessed what he hoped.
”You want this man killed,” Peter went on. ”It's been obvious to me from the first night I came here. Well, I'm not going to be the one to do it.”
McGuire's glance fell to the rug as he stammered hoa.r.s.ely, ”I--I never asked you to do it. Y-you must be dreaming. I--I'm merely making plans to a.s.sure your safety. I don't want you hurt, Nichols. That's all.
You're not going to back out now?” he pleaded.
”Murder is a little out of my line----”
”You're not going to fail me----?” McGuire's face was ghastly. ”You _can't_,” he whispered hoa.r.s.ely. ”You can't let me down now. _I_ can't see this man. I can't tell Stryker all you know. You're the only one.
You promised, Nichols. You promised to go.”
”Yes. And I'll keep my word--but I'll do it in my own way. I'm not afraid of any enemy of yours. Why should I be? But I'm not going to shoot him. If that's understood give me the money and I'll be off.”
”Yes--yes. That's all right, Nichols. You're a good fellow--and honest.
I'll make it worth your while to stay with me here.” He took up the money and handed it to Peter, who counted it carefully and then put it in an inside pocket. ”I don't see why you think I wanted you to kill Hawk Kennedy,” McGuire went on, whining. ”A man's got a right to protect himself, hasn't he? And you've got a right to protect _yourself_, if he tries to start anything.”
”Have you any reason to believe that he might?”
”No. I can't say I have.”
”All right. I'll take a chance. But I want it understood that I'm not responsible if anything goes wrong.”
”That's understood.”
Peter made his way downstairs, and out of the front door to the portico.