Jimmy remained silent. He had seen Pete Conley go out the back door of the saloon, carrying that big Colt gun in his hand. Only a few moments before that, Mallette had gone out through the same door.
“So you see,” said Roaring slowly, “you might not know it all, Jimmy.”
“Mallette robbed him,” declared Jimmy.
“English Ed said you wasn’t sure about it, Jimmy.”
“English Ed said that; but I’m sure, Roarin’. Right at the time I hesitated. You hate to be sure of a thing like that. I was confused, excited; but, as soon as I had a chance to think about it, I remembered turnin’ my cards toward Pete, and I had that king of hearts. I threw my cards over toward Mallette. Mebbe one of ’em turned so he saw what it was. I remember he dealt one-handed, dropping the cards several inches, and one kinda skidded away. It was his way of gettin’ that king. And he upsets his chips. That was done to draw our attention away while he got that card.”
“I know,” sighed Roaring, “it was crooked work; but Mallette didn’t have a gun on him tonight.”
“You mean they’ll call it murder, Roarin’?”
“Looks that way, Jimmy. And Mallette was one of English Ed’s men. That means they’ll try to take the law in their own hands.”
“Well, what’s to be done, Roarin’?”
“Let’s go and see Pete.”