He was trapped.
"Turn on the light, Billy," he heard Rann say in a quiet, unexcited voice.
"We've got this house-breaker cornered, and he's lost his gun.

Turn on the light--and I'll make one shot do the business!" Aldous heard Quade moving, but he was not coming toward the table.
Somewhere in the room was another switch connected with the iron lamp, and Aldous felt a curious chill shoot up his spine.

Without seeing through that pitch darkness of the room he sensed the fact that Culver Rann was standing with his back against the locked door, a revolver in his hand.

And he knew that Quade, feeling his way along the wall, held a revolver in his hand.
Men like these two did not go unarmed.

The instant the light was turned on they would do their work.