"You see, I was right in the middle of a little poker game that hung on uncommon long.

But when it finished up, me and Shorty come as fast as we could.

Eh, Shorty ?" "Huh!" grunted Shorty.

Marianne looked to her messenger for the first time.
He sat his saddle loosely, one hand falling heavily on the pommel, and his head bent.

He did not raise it to meet her glance, but rolled his eyes up in a gloomy scowl which flitted over her face and then came to a rest on the face of Red Jim Perris.