The fast riding horseman swept
and shot on down the street, leaving a pungent though invisible cloud
of dust behind him. He stopped in front of Rogers's house and darted
up the steps and through the door. Acting upon a premonition, Dan
dismounted a short distance from Rogers's house and ran to the door.
He opened it softly and found himself in a narrow hall dimly lighted
by a smoking lamp. Voices came from the room to his right.
"What d'you mean, Hardy?" the deputy sheriff was saying.
"Hell's startin'!"
"There's a good many kinds of hell. Come out with it, Lee. I ain't no
mind reader."
"They're gettin' ready for the big bust!"
"What big bust?"
"It ain't no use bluffin'. Ain't Silent told you that I'm on the
inside of the game?"
"You fool!" cried Rogers. "Don't use that name!"
Dan slipped a couple of paces down the hall and flattened himself
against the wall just as the door opened. Rogers looked out, drew a
great breath of relief, and went back into the room. Dan resumed his
former position.
"Now talk fast!" said Rogers.
"About time for you to drop that rotten bluff. Why, man, I could even
tell you jest how much you've cost Jim Silent.
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