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 times this month I've seen young Jeff ridin' along to town at sundown, and if he gives Walker a chance he's a fool. If I was a boy and had the same against Walker I'd say 'Look out, Windy,' when he was dead."

But the room was crowded and the play went on. Davies didn't play; his nerves were on the stretch. Something seemed to tell him that Walker's time was coming; he felt as some do when thunder is brewing in a great and heavy calm. And suddenly he went curiously white.

"That blind's higher than it was," he said. But no one else saw it. They faced the tables; the talk of the faro-dealer went on; a lucky man cried "Keno!" They swore and cursed and drank. And then Davies saw fingers at the blind cord, only fingers. The blind went up three inches. He drew back still farther and stood against the wall, with an extinguished cigar between his teeth and his cow-hat over his eyes. He looked at Walker, who was in a crowd.