“Quiet,” hissed the gambler. “I'm listening.”
“If it's for friends of ours,” grimaced Rafe Bodson, “you needn't listen any longer. We haven't any friends in either crowd now.”
“Quiet, I tell you!” snarled Duff.
No noise of moving automobiles came to the gambler's keen ears in the darkness of the night.
“Ready,” faintly whispered Duff, giving Ashby a slight nudge.
“Shoot 'em?” whispered the mad hotel man.
“Yes; you hit Jeff. I'll take care of Rafe!”
Just then darkness fell upon the gambler. He was knocked flat and senseless by a blow of a fist from behind.
In the same instant a man leaped upon George Ashby, bearing him to earth.
Bang! The noise of the discharging shotgun broke on the night's stillness. Bang! crashed the other barrel.