"
Even "Go-Light" Sago, the vilest of the Gophertown crew, admired
Overland's coolness in turning his back on Saunders and facing the bar.
For a second Saunders's fingers twitched. He glanced up.
Joe Kennedy was looking at him over his glass of whiskey. "Ain't you
drinkin', Silent?" he asked.
"With some folks," said Saunders.
Overland whirled round. "Have a drink with me, then."
Saunders laughed.
"Then you don't smoke either, while I'm here," said Overland, his hand
on his hip.
"That so?"
"Yes, that's so! When you try to pull that old bluff of a match-game on
me, wait till I'm a hundred and four years old, Silent. That gun-trick
died of old age. Think up a new one."
"Ain't you talkin' a little loud for polite sassiety?" questioned Sago,
addressing Overland.
"Seein' you're the only one that thinks so, I reckon not," said
Overland.
"Then," said Sago, moving slightly from the bar, "Saunders smokes."
It was an open declaration of war. Sago, the Inyo County outlaw, sided
with Saunders.
According to the ethics of gunmen, Saunders was not armed. He was not
"packing iron." His weapons lay on the table within reach, but he knew
Overland would not precipitate matters by shooting him down where he
sat.
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