“And you expect me to back you up in this lie?” Lefty broke in, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve got another guess coming, Elgin. I came mighty close to lying for you once, and it’s the last time.”
Elgin’s face darkened. “You’ll blab it all to him, then?” he burst out. “I might have known you wouldn’t let slip a chance like this to get back at me. You always were a—” He stopped abruptly and bit his lip, a slow flush rising in his face.
Lefty’s eyes flashed ominously. “Well?” he snapped. “Let’s have it. What were you going to say?”
Elgin’s gaze dropped to the ground, and he kicked a pebble awkwardly. “Nothing,” he mumbled. “I—wasn’t thinking—of what—you did for me last night.”
Lefty’s lips curled scornfully. “Don’t let that worry you,” he retorted. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it to save my self-respect, and because you were one of the boys against a crowd of muckers. You don’t owe me anything. Get that? I don’t want you indebted to me. As for this story you told Brennan, it’s up to you. I won’t go out of my way to put him right, but if he asks me questions I’ll tell him the truth.”
Elgin threw back his head, furious under the lashing contempt of the other’s voice.
“If you’re such a good little boy,” he sneered, “how do you explain traveling under a name which isn’t yours? Strikes me that’s a lie, all right.”
“That’s my business,” returned Lefty curtly. “Anything more?”
“No,” snarled Elgin; “but if Brennan gets wise through you, I’ll settle your hash for good and all.”
Lefty shrugged his shoulders indifferently. “Try it,” he laughed. “If you don’t have any better luck than you did the last time, I guess I’ll survive.”