“Steve, ye’re wrong! I tried to git ye clear——”
“Shet up! Ye dirty liar! Ye——”
“But wait, for Gawd’s sakes! Gimme a chance to tell ye! Ye was drunk that night—ye was wild—crazy—I couldn’t handle ye. Ye got ’way from me. Fust I knowed, the place was a-burnin’ an’ ye a-shootin’—I resked my own life a-tryin’ to git ye ’way—don’t ye mind me a-haulin’ ye down the road an’ the Bumps a-shootin’ after us an’ how ye tumbled sudden? I thought they’d hit ye, kilt ye, an’ I had to look out for myself then. Mebbe ye don’t ’member—ye was so drunk——”
“Ye lie! I was drunk—ye got me drunk a-purpose—but I can ’member better’n ye think I can. Drinkin’ never makes me crazy: it makes me sleepy: but a thing that happens when I’m drunk stays clear into my head when I’m sober ag’in. Ye can’t wiggle out, ye p’ison varmint! I’m a-shootin’ right quick. But fust ye got to tell me how ye kilt Nat. Wha’d ye do to him? Speak up, blast ye!”
“I never!” Snake’s voice rose to a scream. “I never! Last I see o’ Nat that night he was a-trompin’ round the road crazy drunk. I was Nat’s friend—I been your friend—I’m here now ’cause I’m friends with all the Oakses! Lookit that feller Hampton! He’s yer wust enemy! He set the ’tectives onto ye—he tolled Marry into this ’ere house to-night—he’s a-gittin’ her ’way from ye—he’s doin’ ye dirt to every turn!”
The desperate play to distract Steve’s attention almost succeeded. It was a diabolical stroke at the hard-bitten youth’s innate distrust of outsiders and at his jealousy. So unexpected was it that for an instant Douglas and Marion stood staring blankly; and Steve, brain aflame, nearly turned to confront them. Had he done so, Snake could have jumped, shoved him toward Marion, and sprung out of the door before either of the guns—or the chair, which Douglas had lowered—could stop him.
But he did not quite succeed. Steve’s eyes turned, but the deadly muzzles did not swing more than an inch. Then, just as a sinuous quiver of forthcoming action ran through Snake, eyes and muzzles darted back at him. Simultaneously Douglas stepped forward with fists clenched and Marion with gun lifted.
“Hold up a minute, Steve,” Douglas requested ominously. “I owe him one for that. You, Snake! Step out and put up your hands!”
“Don’t you!” the girl rebuked him. “He’s a-tryin’ a trick! Steve, it’s all lies! I’ve got a good mind to kill him my own self. But I ain’t a-goin’ to, and don’t you shoot him neither. What good will it do to——”
“I been waitin’ three year! What ye think—I’ll let him loose now?” A harsh cackle followed—ending in another of those involuntary moans. Steve lurched slightly. His face drew even tighter. “Keep off, the both o’ ye!” he gasped.