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Scully wheeled sternly upon his son.”What is this, Johnnie?”

The lad had grown sullen.”Damned if I know,” he answered.”I can’t make no sense to it.”He began to shuffle the cards, fluttering them together with an angry snap.”He says a good many men have been killed in this room, or something like that. And he says he’s goin’ to be killed here too. I don’t know what ails him. He’s crazy, I shouldn’t wonder.”

Scully then looked for explanation to the cowboy, but the cowboy simply shrugged his shoulders.

“Kill you?” said Scully again to the Swede.”Kill you?Man, you’re off your nut.”

“Oh, I know,” burst out the Swede.”I know what will happen. Yes, I’m crazy — yes. Yes, of course, I’m crazy — yes. But I know one thing — “There was a sort of sweat of misery and terror upon his face.”I know I won’t get out of here alive.”

The cowboy drew a deep breath, as if his mind was passing into the last stages of dissolution.”Well, I’m dog-goned,” he whispered to himself.

Scully wheeled suddenly and faced his son.”You’ve been troublin’ this man!”

Johnnie’s voice was loud with its burden of grievance.”Why, good Gawd, I ain’t done nothin’ to ‘im.”

The Swede broke in.”Gentlemen, do not disturb yourselves. I will leave this house. I will go ‘way because — “He accused them dramatically with his glance.”Because I do not want to be killed.”

Scully was furious with his son.”Will you tell me what is the matter, you young divil?What’s the matter, anyhow?Speak out!”

“Blame it,” cried Johnnie in despair, “don’t I tell you I don’t know. He — he says we want to kill him, and that’s all I know. I can’t tell what ails him.”

The Swede continued to repeat: “Never mind, Mr. Scully, never mind. I will leave this house. I will go away, because I do not wish to be killed. Yes, of course, I am crazy — yes. But I know one thing!I will go away. I will leave this house. Never mind, Mr. Scully, never mind. I will go away.”

“You will not go ‘way,” said Scully.”You will not go ‘way until I hear the reason of this business. If anybody has troubled you I will take care of him. This is my house. You are under my roof, and I will not allow any peaceable man to be troubled here. He cast a terrible eye upon Johnnie, the cowboy, and the Easterner.

“Never mind, Mr. Scully; never mind. I will go ‘way. I do not wish to be killed.”The Swede moved toward the door, which opened upon the stairs. It was evidently his intention to go at once for his baggage.

“No, no,” shouted Scully peremptorily; but the white-faced man slid by him and disappeared.”Now,” said Scully severely, “what does this mane?”

Johnnie and the cowboy cried together: “Why, we didn’t do nothin’ to ‘im!”

Scully’s eyes were cold.”No,” he said, “you didn’t?”

Johnnie swore a deep oath.”Why, this is the wildest loon I ever see. We didn’t do nothin’ at all. We were jest sittin’ here playin’ cards and he — “

The father suddenly spoke to the Easterner.”Mr. Blanc,” he asked, “what has these boys been doin’?”

The Easterner reflected again.”I didn’t see anything wrong at all,” he said at last slowly.

Scully began to howl.”But what does it mane?”He stared ferociously at his son.”I have a mind to lather you for this, me boy.”

Johnnie was frantic.”Well, what have I done?” he bawled at his father.

III

“I think you are tongue-tied,” said Scully finally to his son, the cowboy and the Easterner, and at the end of this scornful sentence he left the room.

Upstairs the Swede was swiftly fastening the straps of his great valise. Once his back happened to be half-turned toward the door, and hearing a noise there, he wheeled and sprang up, uttering a loud cry. Scully’s wrinkled visage showed grimly in the light of the small lamp he carried. This yellow effulgence, streaming upward, colored only his prominent features, and left his eyes, for instance, in mysterious shadow. He resembled a murderer.