"Well, at least, you can bring her forth and permit us to gaze upon her a while," suggested Charley.
"Not to-night," was the firm retort.
"Then it certain will seem a heap like you thought her too good for us, and the boys won't like that a great deal if I tell 'em so."
Bill leaned on the bar, his back against it and his elbows resting so that his hands were close to his hips. In that manner he stood perfectly steady, and he was in a position to draw his pistols quickly.
"Charley," he said, his voice like the purring of a cat, all the thickness seeming gone from his tongue, while his wicked eyes narrowed to two thin slits, "I don't think you'll go for to say anything whatever to the boys on this point. You are my friend, I opine. Am I sure right on that?"
At this juncture Handsome Charley realized all at once that Bill was not yet drunk enough not to be deadly. Charley's eyes noted in a flash how the man had steadied himself and was ready for anything, and Charley decided that the time was not yet ripe for bringing on a quarrel.
"Of course I'm your friend, Bill!" he said, with pretended heartiness, "and whatever you says goes[Pg 297] with me. I was just speakin' because I has heard some of the boys growlin' over this business. That's all."
Bill smiled, but his smile was anything but pleasant.
"If any o' the boys growl around in your hearin' some more," he said, "refer 'em to me, please. I reckons I can certain stop their growlin' in a hurry."
"All right, all right!" nodded Charley.