“Come on, you!” ordered Happy.
Whereupon with a shout and an imprecation the men removed en masse to the door.
“Boys,” intervened Nick at this juncture, rushing into their midst, “when Alliger was hanged Rance let ’im see his sweetheart. I think, considerin’ as how she ain’t goin’ to see no more o’ Mr. Johnson here, an’ knowin’ the Girl’s feelin’s—well, I think she ought to have a chance to—”
Nick was not allowed to finish, for instantly the men were up in arms raising a most vigorous objection to his proposal; but, notwithstanding, Nick, evidently bent upon calling the Girl, started for the door.
“No,” objected Rance, obstinately.
The road agent took a step forward and, turning upon the Sheriff with a desperately hopeless expression upon his face, he said:
“Jack Rance, there were two of us—I’ve had my chance. Inside of ten minutes I’ll be dead and it will be all your way. Couldn’t you let me—”
He paused, and ended almost piteously with: “Oh, I thought I’d have the courage not to ask, but, Oh, couldn’t you let me—couldn’t you—”
Once more Nick intervened by shrewdly prevaricating:
“Here’s the Girl, boys!”