Mr. Jay glared. "Did you kill him, Mr. Tesno?"
You had to give the man credit. All he had left was a desperate bluff—and a steely confidence in himself.
"You know better," Tesno said.
"My information is that this man Palma tried to wreck Vickers' boiler a few days ago," Mr. Jay said loudly. "You killed his partner. You were trailing him. You and Pinky Bronklin were old enemies. Willie Silverknife wanted these men alive. Did you want them dead, Mr. Tesno?"
"I'll have my proof when I need it," Tesno muttered.
"I have no authority yet," Mr. Jay went on. "But let me warn you. Keep out of the town and its affairs. If I hear of any more of your blustering and bullying here, I'll insist that the marshal stop it."
Tesno grinned and gave a little toss of his head. He understood that Mr. Jay was offering a challenge rather than a warning.
"I'm going to close your town down tight, Mr. Jay," he said.
He backed his horse from between the wagons and jogged down the street to the Silver Slipper. He tied the horse and went in, knowing that Madrid and Jay were watching.
The proprietor, who was a member of the town council, was sitting in a poker game. Tesno stood behind him till a hand was finished.