Into the fiery haze of Donnegan's vision stepped a raw-boned fellow with sandy hair and a disagreeably strong jaw.
"You're the gent that's here with the colonel, ain't you?" said Lester.
Donnegan did not reply.
"You're the gent that cleaned up on Landis, ain't you?" continued the sandy-haired man.
There was still the same silence, and Lester burst out: "It don't work, Donnegan. You've showed you're man-sized several ways since you been in The Corner. Now I come to tell you to get out from under Colonel Macon. Why? Because he's crooked, because we know he's crooked; because he played crooked with me. You hear me talk?"
Still Donnegan considered him without a word.
"We're goin' to run him out, Donnegan. We want you on our side if we can get you; if we can't get you, then we'll run you out along with the colonel."
He began to talk with difficulty, as though Donnegan's stare unnerved him. He even took a step back toward the door.
"You can't bluff me out, Donnegan. I ain't alone. They's others behind me. I don't need to name no names. Here's another thing: you ain't alone yourself. You got a woman and a cripple on your hands. Now, Donnegan, you're a fast man with a gun and you're a fast man at thinkin', but I ask you personal: have you got a chance runnin' under that weight?"
He added fiercely: "I'm through. Now, talk turkey, Donnegan, or you're done!"