Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/199

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AN EXILE FROM "GOD'S COUNTRY"

business. There were others who would have been glad to see Weekes filled up with lead. I had no liking for him, but I had for Habersham. I called to him suddenly—

"Mr. Habersham!"

He stopped dead, and I walked back to him. If I could only hold him in talk for a minute I might see Ginger Gillett or his deputy on the street. At the worst it would give me a minute or two to think. And in a minute anything might happen.

"What is it?" said Habersham.

"Oh, by the way," I said, "I've just come down from Snyder, where I was staying with Chapman. He told me he wanted you to put him up a windmill."

This was a lie on the spur of the moment. Chapman cared about nothing but horses and poker, and Ennis Creek gave him all the water he wanted.

"I'm not on windmills any more," said Habersham thickly. "Oh, God! windmills. Oh, go to hell!"

He tore his coat away from my hand and went fast, all the faster perhaps from my

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