Ault’s face went a trifle darker, and he lifted his hands to a level with his waist.
“You travel muy pronto ,” snapped Sleed. “Better go north, Ault, so yuh won’t have any reason even to pass Calico town again.”
“Think so?” snapped Ault. His right hand flashed up from under his coat. From across the room came the jarring thud of a pistol shot, and Ault jerked back, firing his pistol a foot over Sleed’s head. For a moment Ault’s eyes shifted around the room, as he grasped at the bar for support, half-turned toward the door and fell sprawling.
One of Sleed’s men came slowly across the room, pistol in hand, watching Ault closely. Sleed’s expression had not changed.
“Quick work, Loper,” he said softly. Loper nodded and shoved his gun back into its holster.
Just then the Saint and Duke Steele came into the door. Sleed looked at them indifferently, and motioned for some more men to assist in carrying Ault’s body out of the place. The Saint and Steele stood aside and watched the men file out.
“Silver Sleed?” asked Steele.
Sleed looked at him for a moment; glanced toward the door as he nodded. Some of the men who had been at the graveyard were coming in, looking curiously back at the men carrying Ace Ault.
“We’re lookin’ for a place to live in,” said Steele. “A man told us to see Silver Sleed.”