THE MAN UNDERNEATH
westward to the open prairie. For the little hotel was on the borders of the town.
"Is anything laid up for Briggs?" I asked.
Tom didn't answer, but he was playing with something which I knew would fit a forty-four Smith and Wesson.
"Thompson is going to kill him first chance," said Northrop quietly.
"What about the law?" I asked, a little satirically, and Tom snapped his fingers.
"That for the law!"
He looked at me with an almost shamefaced smile.
"First principles, old man," he said. "But I don't want you in it. Northrop and I are playing this game."
I own I wanted to see the end of it; I would have attended Colonel Briggs's funeral with a deal of quiet satisfaction.
"I'm not married and you are," said Tom. "This is not your game. Go on to Mexico; when you come back we may have it finished. I've a plot laid to get Briggs off his ranch into the Rock!"
He spoke with a fine calm. It was quite a
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