And every word was drank eagerly in by a pair of acute and hungering ears.
Shadow was highly excited, and his face was filled with an expectant light.
He fully believed that one among the men gathered there was the will-o'-the-wisp which he had so long been following, and he was waiting until this one should utter a word that would commit him, one word by which he would fasten on himself a crime by which Shadow had sworn solemnly to avenge in as terrible a manner as was within his power.
[CHAPTER XIV.]
DICK STANTON.
"You treacherous hound!" I angrily and indignantly exclaimed, as I gave Stanton a hearty shaking when I learned to a certainty that he had given a signal to call a crowd of desperadoes to his assistance.
As the roughs began to pile out of the darkened saloon, the false detective gave vent to a nervous laugh. He was afraid he would not be rescued, and yet did not see how it could be possible for me to retain him as a prisoner in the face of these friends of his.
I was, however, determined to do so.
I was considerably riled up just about then, and could have laid down my life rather than have let him escape.