“He didn’t mention,” replied Laskar.
“So he downed Dolver. Did he say what for?”
“Said Dolver had shot up his partner, Davey Langan—back in Pardo. Harlan was evenin’ up.”
“What do you know about Harlan?”
The question was addressed to all of them.
Rogers answered.
“He’s a bad guy—all bad. He’s an iceberg, an’ he’s got the snakiest gun-hand of any man in the country. Draws hesitatin’-like. A man don’t know when he’s goin’ to uncork his smoke-wagons. I seen him put Lefty Blandin’ out. He starts for his guns, an’ then kind of stops, trickin’ the other guy into goin’ for his. Then, before the other guy can get his gun to workin’, Harlan’s stickin’ his away, an’ the guy’s ready for the mourners.
“Harlan got his handle that way. He goes for his guns so slow an’ hesitatin’ that he seems to drag ’em out. But some way he’s always shootin’ first. An’ they always let him off because it’s mighty plain that the other guy tried to draw first.”
“I’ve heard that,” said Deveny slowly. “What’s his record?”
“Plays her a lone hand,” returned Rogers. He watched the other steadily.