“Where did you get that ‘free drink’ stuff from?” snarled Lew. “My money’s as good as anybody else’s, isn’t it?”
“If it’s honestly come by,” said the landlord. “Let us have a look at it.”
Lew pulled out a handful of silver, and the master of the Red Lion stood back.
“Come in,” he said, “but don’t make a home of my bar. You can have your drink and go.”
Lew growled the order, and the landlord poured out the two portions of whisky.
“Here’s yours, Carter,” said Lew, and Ray swallowed the fiery dram and choked.
“I’ll be glad to get back,” said Lew in a low voice. “It’s all right for you single men, but this tramping is pretty tough on us fellows who’ve got wives—even though the wives aren’t all they might be.”
“I didn’t know you were married,” said Ray, faintly interested.
“There’s a lot you don’t know,” sneered the other. “Of course I’m married. You were told once, and you hadn’t the brains to believe it.”
Ray looked at the man open-mouthed.