“Perhaps you’d better look where you’re going, neighbor,” said Lex finally, in a dangerously quiet tone.
The other’s lip curled, and his eyes flamed with contempt. He sneered. “I see you don’t know who you’re talking to——”
“I don’t care and have no desire to know,” cut in Lex. “What I want to know is, are you looking for trouble?”
The man regarded him hatefully before he spoke, then he said in low, sibilant tones, intended only for Lex’s ears. “One word from me—one signal—and you’d be riddled with bullets where you stand. I don’t like you, stranger, because you’re just that, a stranger. But I admire an equal, able and willing to fight for his rights. You say you don’t care to know me. You ask me if I’m looking for trouble. You haven’t got a chance in the world against me. Look for yourself!”
Without averting his gaze from Lex’s face, he raised his voice: “Hey, gang! Quintell men come forward!”
A sudden movement ran over the multitude. The open circle began filling rapidly, as scores of hitherto curious onlookers obeyed the order. They halted, silent and ominous—members of that army of undesirables which forms a large percentage of the population of every new mining camp—and focused their hard eyes on Lex.
The man chuckled easily. “You’re a stranger in camp and don’t appreciate what it means to brush up against Jule Quintell. I hope we understand each other—that we’ll spare each other future embarrassment,” he said, with biting emphasis.
Dismissing his followers with a wave of his hand, he turned on his heel and strode away. Lex, furious with chagrin, looked after him for some seconds, then he entered the little dry-goods store.
“Oh, deary!” burst out Mrs. Liggs, hurrying up to him. She closed and locked the front door, and taking his hand in her own trembling one, started leading him toward the rear of the place. “I nearly fainted with fright, Lex. Do you know who he was? Jule Quintell, honey, the awfulest man. He’s the worst crook, controls the camp, and is that powerful he just laughs at law and order. Men are killed off like flies, and they say Jule Quintell is back of every murder. Oh, it’s terrible, Lex! Nobody is safe, and he’s got spies all around, and they jump mining claims, and if the owner shows fight, they shoot him like a dog. I was just scared to death.”
She made him comfortable in the cozy living room and chattered on, recounting the lawless deeds of “Boss” Quintell and his gangster following.