“Well, then,” said the latter, and he took in Kate with a caution from the corner of his eye, “if that's the case, let's sit down and chin for a minute.”
Dan stood with his head bowed a little, frowning; two forces pulled him, and Kate leaned against the wall off in the shadow with her eyes closed, waiting, waiting, waiting through the crisis.
“I'd like to stay and chin with you, Buck—but, I got to be off. Out there—in the night—something may happen before mornin'.” Black Bart licked the hand of the master and whined. “Easy, boy. We're startin'.”
“But the night's just beginnin',” said Buck Daniels genially. “You got a world of time before you, and with Satan to fall back on you don't have to count your minutes. Pull up a chair beside me, Dan, and—”
The latter shook his head, decided. “Buck, I can't do it. Just to sit here”—he looked about him—“makes me feel sort of choked. Them walls are as close—as a coffin.”
He was already turning; Kate straightened in the shadow, desperate.
“As a matter of fact, Dan,” said Lee Haines, suddenly, “we need your help badly.”
“Help?”
The heart of Kate stood in her eyes as she looked at Lee Haines.
“Sit down a minute, Dan, and I'll tell you about it.”