On the refrigerator, Charlie See put by his lunch. He fished out a tally book and pencil and began taking down names.
Charlie See raced to Perrault’s door a little before eleven. He slipped in without a summons, he closed the door behind him and leaned his back against it. The waiting men rose to meet him—Perrault, Maginnis, Preisser, and a fourth, whom Charlie did not know.
“Come on to the jail, Maginnis! The gang have closed up the Mermaid and they are now organizing their lynchin’ bee. We’ve just time to beat ’em to it!”
“How many?” asked Perrault, reaching up for a rifle.
“You don’t go, Perrault. This is no place for a family man.”
“But, Spinal—”
“Shut up! No married man in this. Nor you, Preisser. You’re too old. Mr. See, this is Buck Hamilton. Shall we get someone else? Shaky Akins? Where’s Lull?”
“Lull is asleep. Let him be. Worn out. Akins is—we’ve no time for Akins. Here’s a plenty—us three, the jailer and Dines. Jailer all right, is he?”
“Any turn in the road. Do you usually tote three guns, young feller?”