im and I. Doc
Crombie came because we'd a notion we were sorry for Eve, and didn't
want her to die on our hands. That's why we were there."

Will laughed.

"Jim Thorpe was there, eh? And who's to say that you and he didn't do
the mischief? Guess Jim hates things enough, seeing I married Eve.
She'd got no broken head when I left her."

"You needn't to lie about it, Will," Peter said calmly. "Least of all
to me. But that makes no odds. As I said, you've got to take a fall.
Barnriff's got ears and eyes that puts it wise to a lot. It's wise to
how things have been going with you and Eve. It's wise to the fact
you're bumming your living out of her, that you're a drunken,
poker-playing loafer, and that you're doing it on her earnings. And
Barnriff, headed by a few of us, and Doc Crombie, aren't going to
stand for it. If you don't get busy you'll find there's trouble for
you, and if, from this out, Barnriff gets wise to your ill-treatment
of Eve, in any way--God help you. You'll get less mercy shown you than
you showed that poor girl to-night. That's what I brought you here to
say. And I'd like to add a piece of friendly advice. Don't you show
your face in Rocket's saloon to get a drink or deal a hand at poker
for a month or--well, I needn't warn you further of what's going to
happen. If you've got savvee you'll read through the lines. Maybe
you'll take this hard--I can see it in your face. But you're a man,
and you've got some grit--well, get right out and do things. That's
your chance here in Barnriff."

Will Henderson's face was a study while he listened to his arraignment
and final sentence by the mild Peter Blunt. At first rage was his
dominant emotion, but it gave way before the mild but resolute fashion
in which the large man poured out the inexorable flow of the sentence.
And somehow for a moment those calm words got hold of all that was
vital in him, and he shrank before them. But neither did this feeling
last. A bitter hatred rose up in his heart, a black, overmastering,
passionate desire for vengeance fired him, and proportionate with its
strength a cunning stirred which held it in check. He put an abrupt
question, nor could he keep his angry feelings out of his voice.

"So Jim Thorpe's helped in this?" he said savagely. "No need to ask
his reason. Gee, it's a mean man that can't take his med'cine."

"You needn't bark up that tree, Will," said Peter, patiently. "We're
all responsible for this--the whole of Ba