For an instant Dunlavey did not move. His eyes glittered malevolently as they bored into Hollis’s. Then his expression changed until it was a mingling of contempt, incredulity, and mockery.
“So you’re thinking of thrashing me?” he sniffed, backing away a little and eyeing Hollis critically. “You slugged me once and you’re thinking to do it again. And you think that any man who uses a gun on another is a coward?” He laughed sardonically. “Well, all I’ve got to say to you is that you ain’t got your eye-teeth cut yet.” He deliberately turned his back on Hollis and the others and walked to the door. On the threshold he halted, looking back at them all with a sneering smile.
“You know where I live,” he said to Judge Graney. “I ain’t bringing in no list nor I ain’t registering my brand. I don’t allow no man to come monkeying around on my range and if you come out there, thinking to run off any of my stock, you’re doing it at your own risk!” His gaze went from the Judge to Hollis and his smile grew malignant.
“I’m saying this to you,” he said, “no man ain’t ever thrashed Bill Dunlavey yet and I ain’t allowing that any man is ever going to. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!”
He slammed the door and was gone. Hollis turned from the door to see a dry smile on the face of the man at the window.
“Fire eater, ain’t he?” observed the latter, as he caught Hollis’s glance.
CHAPTER XVI
THE BEARER OF GOOD NEWS
Hollis smiled. The Judge got to his feet and approached the two men.
“Hollis,” he said, “shake hands with Mr. Allen, of Lazette.”