Under his scrutiny, her lips tightened and she abruptly walked away.
DuChane's eyes followed until she disappeared behind the curtain which served as a doorway for her sleeping compartment.
"Y'know," he volunteered, "there's something about that kid I could almost tumble for."
"Cut it out!" was Marlin's sharp response.
"What do you mean?"
Marlin did not answer. He was, in fact, puzzled to know why he had spoken.
"I'll tell you what you mean!" DuChane said heatedly. "You've got your eyes on this dame, same as you've had 'em on Sally. Anything that looks like competition gets your nanny. Well, Marlin, I'm serving notice that where women are concerned I do my own picking. The other man's claim-stakes mean nothing to me."
"That's the talk!" approved McGruder. "What the hell! There's enough to go around, not countin' old Eli, and we don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow. I got my eye on that little—"
"Shut up!" blazed Marlin.
He eyed the ex-detective with burning distaste.