“Make him tell the truth!” Douglas shot back. “Give him to the officers—they’ll get the truth out of him—the truth that will clear you! Don’t you see? You won’t have to hide any more then. You’ll never have to go back to the pen. And he’ll get what’s coming to him for murdering Lou. If you shoot him he never can clear you—the law will be after you all your life! Are you going to kill your own chances? Don’t be a fool!”
His rapid counsel stayed Steve’s fingers even as they tightened on the triggers. So set on personal and deadly vengeance had the youth been that the thought of making his betrayer rehabilitate him with the Law had never occurred to him. Even now the idea made but slow headway against his fixed mania for revenge. But he held his fire, letting the dazzling possibility grow in his mind.
“That’s what I was tryin’ to tell you, Steve,” seconded Marion. “He can’t talk if you kill him! Now you git away—we’ll give him to the detectives—you git back to the cave and stay there till we tell you to come out——”
Snake broke in. He had been squinting wildly at Douglas.
“Lou? Ye say I kilt Lou? I never! She—she fell often the Wall—I didn’t have nothin’ to do with it—she got dizzy——”
All at once his eyes widened, looking beyond them. Douglas half turned, then forced his gaze back, suspecting a trick. But it was no ruse. Quiet footsteps sounded at the rear of the room. Then spoke a cool, authoritative voice.
“Stand still, everybody. Don’t try anything sudden. We’ll take charge of this thing now.”
Three heads jerked around. Snake still stared. From the obscurity of Douglas’ sleeping-room had issued two men who now advanced watchfully, right hands under their coats. They were Ward and Bill.
CHAPTER XXVIII
AN ACCOUNT IS CLOSED
From the surprise of seeing those dreaded detectives two men recovered quickest—Douglas, who had no fear of them; and Snake, who had every fear of them.