Page:GB Lancaster--law-bringer.djvu/403

Rh stood in the door, smiling at Slicker, who, stripped to shirt and trousers and with his hair wild, was attempting to sand-bag Cordy as the elder man dodged and feinted and doubled. There was considerable skill shown by both, and Tempest dropped into a chair and watched them. It was against strict etiquette, but he had known Slicker so well once. He had been in a little earlier in the evening, waiting for Hooper to finish a game of cards, and he looked on now with a very much clearer knowledge of Cordy than Cordy imagined. And neither he nor Hopper guessed why Tempest had insisted that the Sergeant should finish his game. Nor why Tempest came back now.

They were exhausted presently, and Tempest made them sit down and talk. He had not seen Slicker since the boy had worn the khaki and he chaffed him about it, good-naturedly and cleverly enough to make Cordy laugh once. In some way this astonished Slicker. He was coming to look on stronger meat as the only possible material for jokes. And that Cordy should laugh raised his opinion of Tempest considerably. But the real mischief in Cordy which had enabled him to weather all the winds that buffeted him was his undoing very presently. Slicker never quite remembered at what point of the conversation he felt Tempest look at him; look again, and finally break in on Cordy's easy-flowing speech.

"Slicker," he said, "I wish you'd ask the Sergeant if my kit has been taken to my room. And I'm going to ask you to unpack it for me. I can't do much stooping yet."

What Tempest said to Cordy after the door was shut Slicker never knew in the least, for Cordy showed no after-signs of it. But what Tempest said to Slicker himself Slicker knew very certainly. Tempest had an apt directness of speech on some occasions.

"I am going to use a very unpleasant simile, Slicker," he said; "and I am using it because I think it more appropriate than any other. There are many men and animals which are attracted by vile smells and tastes—high game, rotten cheese, asafœtida, and all that kind of thing. Those are the physical attractions. Animals—we say unfortunately for them, but there may be some doubts about