At this instant there was a crash from the corner where the stranger had been sitting, followed by a low yell. Murphy abandoned his gun, quick as lightning, and turned. Cervantes also turned. The stranger was standing there, rocking unsteadily on his feet, before his overturned chair.
“Thunderation!” the stranger cried with a perplexed air. “Blamed if I didn’t have the worst nightmare you ever heard of, gents; I’m a terrible person for them things! Sure’s my name’s Jack Robinson, I was goin’ through a reg’lar gun fight, and me the most peaceable man ever stepped! Ain’t it awful what can happen in your sleep?”
With his hat off and standing erect, he was revealed as a tall, slim young man, garbed in usual puncher style. Beneath his close-clipped reddish hair beamed a brown, laughing face which compelled smiles from those who met the steady eyes. That is, sometimes; behind the smile of those eyes there lurked something deeper.
His gaze met the scowl of Murphy, and forced the scowl into a half smile. Then his eyes went to Cervantes, who was staring open-mouthed.
“Hope I didn’t disturb you none, gents,” he said apologetically. Then he looked again at Murphy. The smile vanished from his face, which assumed a look of malicious recognition.
“Well, well!” he said briskly. “If here ain’t my old friend ‘Pincher’ Brady, what was asked to leave Montana for his health’s sake five years ago——”
“Look out you don’t make a mistake, mister,” said the voice of Murphy, biting and deadly. “What’d you say your name was?”
“Sure’s my name’s Jack Robinson, I done made a mistake,” said the other at once, and shook his head. “I’m right sorry about it, pardner. You looked a heap like a gent named Brady who was up in Montana one time, but now I see you ain’t him a-tall.”
“No, he ain’t,” said Murphy, steadily observing him. “Now you’ve seen the mistake, let’s have a drink, hey?”
“Cigar for mine, thanks.” Jack Robinson stepped to the bar, picking up his hat as he came, and his genial smile brought a nod from Mike. He picked up one of the cigars laid down by Buck and pocketed it.