“What a stupid, useless mess!” he cried. “The minute that fellow came into the room I saw we were let in for a row; so I went at it quick before he had got organized. He didn’t expect that. He thought he’d have to work us into it.”
“It certainly got him,” said I.
“But it just starts us all wrong here,” complained Johnny. “We are marked men.”
“We’ll just have to look out for him a little. I don’t believe he’s really dangerous. He looks to me a lot like a bluffer.”
“Oh, him!” said Johnny contemputously, “he doesn’t worry me any. It’s all the rest of them. I’ve practically challenged all the hard cases in camp, don’t you see? I’m no longer an inconspicuous newcomer. Every tough character with any real nerve will want to tackle me now, just to try me out.”
From the impulsive and unanalytical Johnny this was surprising enough, and my face must have showed it.
“I’ve seen it worked out in my part of the country,” he explained sombrely. “I don’t want to bother with that sort of thing. I’m a peaceable citizen. Now I’ve 271 got to walk around on tiptoe all the time watching for trouble. Oh, damn!”
“If you’re afraid─” I began.
“I’m not afraid,” said Johnny so simply that I believed him at once. “But I’m annoyed. And of course you recognized that barkeeper.”
“I thought I’d seen him before, but I don’t remember just where.”