Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/39

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THE KILLING OF "SWEETWATER"

old days, was standing outside the American Saloon with his eyes blazing and his tongue still. They saw him and watched him, and though they stood clear they hoped for his death. And he came to where Smith was, and, as I say, did not know him. But Smith spoke in the tone of a challenge, and his voice brought out Gedge as he cried—

"Hale!"

And Hale stopped dead and turned and saw no one that he knew, so that he could not say who it was of the people about that had spoken to him.

"It was I who called you," said Smith, and then a dim perception of danger came to Hale.

And Smith spoke again in a high-pitched voice.

"Don't you remember Smith of San Antone?" he asked. And Hale did remember, and perhaps he grew a little pale. Gedge said he did, but then Gedge did not like him.

"The last time you saw me," said Smith, "you struck me in the face, and I did nothin'. Do you remember that, Hale?"

Hale remembered. Oh yes, he remembered

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