“We sure did,” Jim Hogg cried.
“Get away from that door, Ace,” Tim Lynch snapped.
“Ace, don’t leave this room,” the judge commanded.
Ace Cutts had his hand on the doorknob. Now he paused.
“If he turns that knob I’ll drop him,” Allen said.
All expression had left the little gunman’s voice. It was flat, toneless. But its very flatness made Ace hesitate. He glanced at Anderson, who nodded to him to go. Then realization came to him that Allen had been watching him in the mirror and that Anderson knew it. Even if he failed to get clear of the door before Allen fired, Anderson would have gained his objective, for a shot in that room would bring the Toad’s killers on the run. Anderson was deliberately trying to sacrifice Ace. He dropped the doorknob as if it had suddenly grown red-hot, threw himself into a chair, and stared fixedly at his neat boots.
“I am given to understand that you know the members of the Lava Gang,” the judge said.
“Yeah, I knows them,” Allen replied softly.
“You can trust every one here. Will you give me their names?”
“I came here to tell yuh, but I’ve changed my mind.”