“All right,” said the one who had Roland by the collar, “I’ll do it.”
He was just intoxicated enough to be reckless, and he actually took a revolver out of his hip pocket.
“Brought this to celebrate with,” he declared. “Loaded it for that purpose; but I guess I’ll shoot this fellow.”
Then he fired straight at Roland’s breast.
Packard fell back with a gasping cry, and the dark-faced man caught him. The other old grads were appalled by the act of their companion, who himself was rather dazed, not having intended to fire the revolver; but he quickly recovered, saying:
“He isn’t hurt, gentlemen! The danged thing is loaded with blanks.”
Packard threatened to call for the police, not one of whom happened to be near.
Not wishing to get into trouble on account of the reckless act of their companion, the old grads hastened away.
Anton Mescal, the man with the dark face, laughed a little, as he said:
“Is this the East? Why, I didn’t suppose men were so careless with their guns here. For a moment I fancied I must be at home.”