The superb contempt of the man, his readiness to give the sheriff
a chance to pump out of Dailey all he knew, served to warn
Collins that his life was in imminent danger. On no hypothesis
save one--that Leroy had already condemned them both to death in
his mind--could he account for such rashness. And that the blow
would fall soon, before he had time to confer with other
officers, was a corollary to the first proposition.
"He'll surely kill me on sight," Scott burst out.
"Yes, he'll kill you," agreed the sheriff, "unless you move
first."
"Move how?"
"Against him. Protect yourself by lining up with me. It's your
only show on earth."
Dailey's eyes flashed. "Then, by thunder, I ain't taking it! I'm
no coyote, to round on my pardners."
"I give it to you straight. He means murder."
Perspiration poured from the man's face. "I'll light out of the
country."
The sheriff shook his head. "You'd never get away alive. Besides,
I want you for holding up the Limited. The safest place for you
is in jail, and that's where I'm going to put you. Drop that gun!
Quick! That's right. Now, you and I are going out of this saloon
by the back door.
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