CHAPTER XXVII.
THE STAGE "You first," said Lawlor at the door.
"I've been taught to let an older man go first," said Bard, smiling pleasantly.

"After you, sir." "Any way you want it, Bard," answered Lawlor, but as he led the way down the hall he was saying to himself, through his stiffly mumbling lips: "He knows! Calamity was right; there's going to be hell poppin' before long." He lengthened his stride going down the long hall to the dining-room, and entering, he found the cowpunchers about to take their places around the big table.

Straight toward the head to the big chair he stalked, and paused an instant beside little Duffy.

Their interchange of whispers was like a muffled rapid-fire, for they had to finish before young Bard, now just entering the room, could reach them and take his designated chair at the right of Lawlor.
"He knows," muttered Lawlor.
"Hell! Then it's all up ?" "No; keep bluffin'; wait.

How's everything ?" "Gregory ain't come in, but Drew may put him wise before he gets inside the house." "You done all I could expect," said Lawlor aloud as Bard came up, "but to-morrow go back on the same job and try to get something definite." To Bard: "Here's your place, partner.