"You 're only doing your sworn duty; I understand that. But there 's
something rotten in this affair somewhere. All I ask is a square deal."
"An' yer kin bet you'll git it, Mr. Winston, er Sam Hayes will find out
why. This yere 'Independence' outfit is no favorites o' mine, an' if
the whole difficulty turns out ter be nothin' but a minin' squabble,
the jury ain't likely ter be very hard on yer. That's my way o'
figgerin' on it, from what little I know." He glanced keenly about,
seeking to gain a clearer idea of their immediate surroundings. "Maybe
you an' Swanson better mosey back yonder to the cabin, where I can keep
an eye on you easy, while I send after the hosses. Farnham, climb back
on top of the dump there, an' give them boys the signal to come on."
The gambler removed his hat, running one hand carelessly through his
hair, his thin lips sufficiently parted to reveal his white teeth.
"I hardly think we are exactly done yet, Mr. Sheriff," he said
sarcastically. "I 'm not very much worried regarding your suddenly
expressed sympathy for this fellow, or your desire to get him off
unscratched; but I feel compelled to insist upon receiving all the law
allows me in this game we 're playing.
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