Without a word, the irate Pete reached under the seat.
CHAPTER XX.
DOUBLE-CROSSED.
“What’s the matter with you fellows, anyhow?” asked De Bray.
“Ye ain’t fit ter live,” said Lonesome Pete.
“That’s right,” cut in Hotchkiss. “Ye didn’t hev the nerve ter call Lawless’ bluff, but had ter rough things up fer the little woman back hyer.”
“You don’t understand the layout, my friends,” said De Bray, his eyes twinkling and the shadow of a smile hovering about the corners of his mouth.
His manner was one of cool unconcern. Billings, Pete, and Hotchkiss could not understand him, but this did not in the least tend to placate them. There had been a mysterious note in the tenderfoot’s manner ever since the stage had left Montegordo. Billings, Pete, and Hotchkiss, however, were in no mood to figure out a conundrum. Taking De Bray as they found him, he was a pretty low-down proposition.
Pete, having brought out the rope, was engaged in making a slip-noose in the end of it. Hotchkiss was pushing back his sleeves in a businesslike way. Billings had firm hold of De Bray’s arm.
At this point, the woman leaned forward and dropped a trembling hand on Billings’ shoulder.
“You are not going to hurt him?” she pleaded, in her soft, gentle voice.