De Spain in the new disposition weighed his chances as being both better and worse. They had put Sanduskys first shot at no more than an arms length from his prey, with Logan next to cover the possibility of the big fellows failing to paralyze de Spain the first instant. On the other hand, de Spain, trained in the tactics of Whispering Smith and Medicine Bend gunmen, welcomed a short-arm struggle with the worst of his assailants closest at hand. One factor, too, that he realized they were reckoning with, gave him no concern. No men in the mountains understood better or were more expert in the technicalities of the law of self-defense than the gunmen of Calabasas. The killing of de Spain they well knew would, in spite of everything, raise a hornets nest in Sleepy Cat, and they wished to be prepared for it. Their manœuvring on this score caused no disquiet to their slender, compactly built victim. Youll wait a long time, if you wait for service here, Morgan, he said, commenting with composure on Morgans impatience. Logan looked again at his two companions and laughed.
Every
hope de Spain had of possible help from the back room died with that laugh. Then the door behind the bar slowly opened, and the scar-featured face of Sassoon peered cautiously from the gloom. The horse thief, stooping, walked in with a leer directed triumphantly at the railroad man.
If it were possible to deepen it, the sinister spot on de Spains face darkened. Something in his blood raged at the sight of the malevolent face. He glanced at Logan. This, he smiled faintly, nodding toward Sassoon as he himself took a short step farther to the left, is your drink, Harvey, is it?
No, retorted Logan loudly, this is your drink.
Ill take Sassoon, assented de Spain, good-natured again and shifting still another step to the left. What do you fellows want now?
We want to punch a hole through that strawberry, said Logan, that beauty-mark. Where did you get it, de Spain?
I might as well ask where you get your gall, Harvey, returned de Spain, watching Logan hunch Sandusky toward the left that both might crowd him closer. I was born with my beauty-markjust as you were born with your damned bad manners, he added composedly, for in hugging up to him his enemies were playing his game. You cant help it, neither can I, he went on. Somebody is bound to pay for putting that mark on me. Somebody is bound to pay for your manners. Why talk about either? Sassoon, set out for your friendsor I will. Spread, gentlemen, spread.
He had reached the position on which he believed his life depended, and stood so close to the end of the bar that with a single step, as he uttered the last words, he turned it. Sandusky pushed close next him. De Spain continued to speak without hesitation or break, but the words seemed to have no place in his mind. He was thinking only, and saw only within his field of vision, a cut-glass button that fastened the bottom of Sanduskys greased waistcoat.
Youve waited one day too long to collect for your strawberry, de Spain, cried Logan shrilly. Youve turned one trick too many on the Sinks, young fellow. If the man that put your mark on you aint in this room, youll never get him.
Which means, I take it, youre going to try to get me, smiled de Spain.
No, bellowed Morgan, it means we have got you.
You are fooling yourself, Harvey. De Spain addressed the warning to Logan. And you, too, Sandusky, he added.
Well take care of that, grinned Logan. Sandusky kept silence.
You are jumping into another mans fight, protested de Spain steadily.
Sassoons fight is our fight, interrupted Morgan.
I advise you, said de Spain once more, looking with the words at Sandusky and his crony, to keep out of it.
Sandusky, yelled Logan to his partner, he advises me and you to keep out of this fight, he shrilly laughed.
Sure, assented Sandusky, but with no variation in tone and his eyes on de Spain.
Logan, with an oath, leaned over the bar toward Sassoon, and pointed contemptuously toward the end of the bar. Shike! he cried, step through the rail and take that mans gun.
De Spain, looking from one to the other of the four faces confronting him, laughed for the first time. But he was looking without seeing what he seemed to look at. In reality, he saw only a cut-glass button. He was face to face with taking a mans life or surrendering his own, and he knew the life must be taken in such a way as instantly to disable its possessor. These men had chosen their time and place. There was nothing for it but to meet them. Sassoon was stepping toward him, though very doubtfully. De Spain laughed again, dryly this time. Go slow, Sassoon, he said. That gun is loaded.
If you want terms, hand over your gun to Sassoon, cried Logan.
Not till its empty, returned de Spain. Do you want to try taking it? he demanded of Logan, his cheeks burning a little darker.
Logan never answered the question. It was not meant to be answered. For de Spain asked it only to cover the spring he made at that instant into Sanduskys middle. Catlike though it was, the feint did not take the big fellow unprepared. He had heard once, when or where he could not tell, but he had never forgotten the hint, that de Spain, a boxer, was as quick with his feet as with his hands. The outlaw whirled. Both men shot from the hip; the reports cracked together. One bullet grazing the fancy button smashed through the gaudy waistcoat: the other, as de Spains free hand struck at the muzzle of the big mans gun, tore into de Spains foot. Sandusky, convulsed by the frightful shock, staggered against de Spains arm, the latter dancing tight against him. Logan, alive to the trick but caught behind his partner, fired over Sanduskys