I'm going to walk beside you, and we're going
to laugh and talk as if we were the best of friends, but my hand
ain't straying any from the end of my gun. Get that, amigo? All
right. Then we'll take a little pasear."
As Collins and his prisoner reappeared in the main lobby of the
Gold Nugget, a Mexican slipped out of the back door of the
gambling-house. The sheriff called Hawkes aside.
"I want you to call a hack for me, Del. Bring it round to the
back door, and arrange with the driver to whip up for the depot
as soon as we get in. We ought to catch that 12:20 up-train. When
the hack gets here just show up in the door. If you see Leroy or
Neil hanging around the door, put your hand up to your tie. If
the coast is clear, just move off to the bar and order
something."
"Sure," said Hawkes, and was off at once, though just a thought
unsteady from his frequent libations.
Both hands of the big clock on the wall pointed to twelve when
Hawkes appeared again in the doorway at the rear of the Gold
Nugget. With a wink at Collins, he made straight for the cocktail
he thought he needed.
"Now," said the sheriff, and immediately he and Dailey passed
through the back door.
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