Page:Randall Parrish - The Red Mist.djvu/129

 Rh here alone, and unprotected, and in this creature of his—this canting preacher—he has found a fit tool ready at hand to do his dirty work. Is that it, Nichols?"

He muttered something inaudible.

"They sent you on ahead to make sure Miss Harwood was here, and to remain until they arrived. How many are going to be in this happy wedding party?"

The man shook his head sullenly, and I gripped him by the throat.

"Answer, you black-hearted cur; you have confessed too much to hide anything now. How many are coming with Anse Cowan?"

"Maybe a half dozen of the boys. I don't know; they were talking about it when I left, and thought it was going to be a great lark."

"Well, it is; you are finding that out already. When were they to be here?" I shook him to loosen his lagging tongue.

"They were to ride out an hour after I did."

I threw the wretch back into the chair before the fire, but held him still cowering before the point of my revolver. The dog had told us all he knew, and there was a snarl to his thin lips, drawn back and exposing his yellow teeth, showing that his only thought now was revenge. Any moment that gang