"What do you think I hired you for?" Heatedly.
"Gawd he knows." Business of rolling a cigarette.
"Yo're supposed to be a two-legged man with a gun."
"Yeah?" Indifferently.
"Yeah, but I got my doubts—now. Hell's bells! Wasn't you off to one side there when Racey pulled? Wasn't you?"
"Wasn't you listenin' to what Racey said at the time? Wasn't you?"
"After! I mean after! His gun was back hugging his leg after the girl slid in between. What more of a chance didja want?"
"So that's it, huh?"
"That's—it." Between the two words was a perceptible pause.
"I ain't shootin' nobody in the back. I never have yet, and I ain't beginnin' now, not for you or any other damn man."