Part 43 (1/2)

”You forget, Rafe,” said the district attorney, ”that you and I don't know what all Mr. Reelfoot is driving at.”

But Rafe Tuckleton was too angry to keep up the farce any longer. ”I hope the fool's hung!” he panted.

”I'll take care not to go alone,” said Reelfoot, pressing his advantage. ”You fellers will have to see that I'm protected or I'll tell what I know.”

”Blah!” blared the district attorney. ”You wouldn't dare snitch!”

”I'll dare more than that to save my skin,” Reelfoot declared hardily.

Rafe Tuckleton returned to the charge. ”What in so-and-so and such-and-such did you do such a fool trick for? Don't you know--couldn't you--oh, whatsa use?”

”You oughta told me all the circ.u.mstances,” persisted Reelfoot. ”That was _your_ fault. If I'd knowed, I could have managed better.”

”I expect--you couldn't,” said Rafe Tuckleton, with an appreciable pause after each word.

”What you gonna do about it?” Reelfoot wanted to know, fidgeting in his chair.

”You'll be taken care of now, you needn't to worry.”

”Oh, fine, fi-ine. That helps a lot, that does, with either Bill Wingo or one of his deputies over to my place about every other day, snoopin'

round and talking to my men.”

”They do that, do they?”

”Yes, they do that.”

”What of it?” demanded Rafe. ”They can't find out anything, can they?

You weren't fool enough to let on to your men--your foreman or anybody, were you?”

”Sure not. But----”

”But what?”

”I don't like 'em slouchin' round this way. You dunno what'll happen.

They might find out somethin' you can't tell.”

”If you didn't tell any of your men, you're safe,” soothed the district attorney, ”so long as you keep your upper lip stiff. You're just a li'l nervous, that's all, Simon. Nothing to worry you a-tall. Here, have another drink. Rafe, shove the bottle over, will you?”

Rafe Tuckleton pettishly obeyed, muttering under his breath. It was only too painfully obvious that Reelfoot's remarks had upset him, and he didn't care who knew it.

”Look here, Simon,” he said suddenly. ”You wanna leave right here your notion that you'll snitch if it comes to the squeak.”

”I'll think about it,” said Simon, setting down his gla.s.s deliberately.

”Because,” Rafe continued, as though there had been no interruption, ”you wanna remember it's almost as easy to kill two men as it is one.”

”I'd thought of that,” said Simon, ”and I brought two of my men with me to-night. They're down at the saloon waiting for me now.”

”A lot of good they are down there,” sneered Rafe.