: "There is no need of dragging any allusion to her into it. For
that matter, I told Bucks he should have sent any man but me. If I'm
in the way, Sinclair, if my presence here is all that stands in the
way, I'll go back and stay back as before, and send any one else you
like or Bucks likes. Are you willing to say that I stand in the way
of a settlement?"

Sinclair sat down and put his hands on the table. "No; your matter and
mine is another affair. All I want between you and me is fair and
right."

Whispering Smith's eyes were on the cards. "You've always had it."

"Then keep away from _her_."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Then don't tell me."

"I'm not telling you. You will do as you please; so will I. I left
here because Marion asked me to. I am here now because I have been
sent here. It is in the course of my business. I have my living to
earn and my friends to protect. Don't dictate to me, because it would
be of no use."

"Well, you know now how to get into trouble."

"Every one knows that; few know how to keep out."

"You can't lay your finger on me at any turn of the road."

"Not if you behave yourself."

"And you can't bully me."

"Surely not. No hard feelings, Murray. I came for a friendly talk, and
if it's all the same to you I'll watch this wheel awhile and then go
over to the Wickiup. I leave first--that's understood, I hope--and if
your pink-eyed friend is waiting outside tell him there is nothing
doing, will you, Murray? Who is the albino, by the way? You don't know
him? I think I do. Fort City, if I remember. Well, good-night,
Murray."

It was after twelve o'clock and the room had filled up. Roulette-balls
were dropping, and above the faro-table the extra lights were on. The
dealers, fresh from supper, were putting things in order for the long
trick.

At the Wickiup Whispering Smith found McCloud in the office signing
letters. "I can do nothing with him," said Smith, drawing down a
window-shade before he seated himself to detail his talk with
Sinclair. "He wants a fight."

McCloud put down his pen. "If I am the disturber it would be better
for me to get out."

"That would be hauling down the flag across the whole division. It is
too late for that. If he didn't centre the fight on you he would
centre it somewhere else. The whole question is, who is going to run
this division, Sinclair and his gang or the company? and it is as easy
to meet them on one point as another. I know of no wa