Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/31

 said Hamilton in a whisper. "He's been over to Big Springs, and will lay over here for a day. D'ye think a man should send him word that Smith is here?"

Whatever I thought would make no difference, and I declined to state what I thought or what my advice was. It is best to stand clear of things like this in all countries, and especially in the West. Smith sat on the verandah and smoked savagely, and as he smoked he chewed the butt of his cigar and thought. He did not speak, and never even looked at me, so far as I could see, till Gedge came over to Hamilton's in the evening. When Smith heard Keno's voice he looked at us with a start, and evidently recognised the gambler. Yet he made no sign that he knew him till Gedge walked over to where he sat and held out his hand.

"I'm glad to see you after all these years," said Gedge, and Smith looked at him hard.

"Truth?" he asked.

"Solid frozen fact," said Gedge.

They shook hands, and Gedge sat down by him.