A Duel in the Desert
"That's my business."
"It's a long day for three of you, in this heat, with two of us."
"The time won't hang heavy on our hands."
"Not heavy enough, I should have thought. I wonder you didn't bring some of the boys from Mulfera along with you."
Superintendent Cairns brayed his high, harsh laugh.
"Yes, you wonder, and so did they," said he. "But I know a bit too much. There'll always be sympathy among scum like them for thicker scum like you!"
"You're too suspicious," said Stingaree, mildly. "But I was thinking of the Bishop and the boss."
"They've gone their own way," growled Cairns, "and it's just as well it wasn't our way. I'd have stood no interference from them!"
That had been his attitude on the station. Stingaree had heard of his rudeness to those to whom the whole credit of the capture belonged; the man revealed his character as freely as an angry child; and, indeed, a childish character it was. Arrogance was its strength and weakness: a suggestion had only to be made to call down either the insolence of office or the malice of denial for denial's sake.
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