"Where's Shaw?"
"Him an' Clausen an' Cavalry went out 'bout ten minutes ago."
"I want to see 'em when they come in," Antonio remarked, shambling towards the door, where he listened, and then went in.
In the small room four men were grouped around a table, drinking and talking, and at his entry they looked up and nodded. He nodded in reply and seated himself apart from them, where he soon became wrapped in thought.
Benito arose and went to the door. "Mescal, pronto," he said to the man outside.
"D——d pronto, too," growled Antonio. "A man would die of alkali in this place before he's waited on."
The proprietor brought a bottle and filled the glasses, giving Antonio his drink first, and silently withdrew.
The broncho-buster tossed off the fiery stuff and then turned his shifty eyes on the group. "Where's Shaw?"
"Don't know—back soon," replied Benito.
"Why didn't he wait, when he knowed I was comin' in?"