AN UNWILLING GUEST Montgomery told himself he would go home; he had seen the last of the gambler and Marsh Langham, he would look out for his own skin now and they could look out for theirs.

He laughed boisterously as he strode along.

He had fooled them both; he, Joe Montgomery, had done this, and by a very master stroke of cunning had tied the judge's hands.

But as he shuffled down the street he saw the welcoming lights of Lonigan's saloon and suddenly remembered there was good hard money in his ragged pockets.
He would have just one drink and then go home to his old woman.
It was well on toward midnight when he came out on the street again, and the one drink had become many drinks; still mindful of his original purpose, however, he reeled across the Square on his way home.

He had just turned into Mulberry Street when he became conscious of a brisk step on the pavement at his side, and at the same instant a heavy hand descended on his shoulder and he found himself looking into Andy Gilmore's dark face.
"Where have you been ?" demanded Gilmore.