“Kinda low down ain’t it, hirin’ women to do yore dirty work? I suppose you was the one who paid her to get out of town ahead of my trial, and you’ve probably paid her a salary ever since.”
Kendall Marsh got to his feet, his fists clenched. Blaze saw Butch Van Deen shift his feet a little and his right hand dropped near his holstered revolver. The woman merely laughed harshly.
“I’m giving you one chance, Nolan,” said Marsh coldly. “You’ll tell us where to find that Lost Trail, and you’ll tell us right now, or you’ll never leave this room alive. I’m tired of you. I saved you from a stretch in the penitentiary, and I gave you a chance to make some easy money, but you’ve double-crossed me in every way. Now, you’ll talk; and, damn you, you’ll talk fast.”
Blaze knew that Marsh meant every word. One more killing would not bother him. But Blaze was not afraid. From where he sat he could see Butch Van Deen and Mac Rawls. He did not think that either of them could draw quicker than he. Marsh might have a gun, of course.
“So yuh aim to put me out of the way, eh?” drawled Blare. “If I don’t tell yuh where that Lost Trail is, you’ll kill me; and if I do tell yuh, I’ll never get out alive. I can see yore game, Marsh. Three to one, and not countin’ the lady. All right; you say the word. Yuh may get me, but some of yuh go along with Blaze Nolan!”
Marsh laughed hollowly.
“You are not considering the two loads of buckshot just behind you.”
Blaze did not turn quickly. But it came to him in a flash that they would not kill him until they were sure he would not tell them where to find the Lost Trail. Then he turned his head. Just behind him was an open window, and over the sill protruded the two barrels of a shotgun, pointed square at him.
CHAPTER XII: CULTUS SWINGS A MEAN GUN
Cultus approached the Triangle X cautiously. He could see the light through one window, but he did not know the lay of the land; so he dismounted and came on toward the house, circling away from the open window.