k to Baxter. It was past twelve. There were no
strangers present save the four roughly dressed men. Baxter was just
telling the bouncer that he knew them, and that he surmised they were
after a certain party, but that that party would not be back there. As
he talked Baxter stepped to the outer door and locked it. It was too
late to expect any worth-while business.

The Spider, who was in reality looking for Baxter, whom he suspected of
trickery, opened the lavatory door far enough to see into the main
room. In a flash he had placed three of the four men who "wanted" him.

White-Eye and Longtree were standing near a player at the faro table,
evidently interested for the moment in the play. Near White-Eye, Pino
was rolling a cigarette. Beyond them, at the next table, stood a man
with a deformed shoulder--and The Spider recognized Gary of the
T-Bar-T, watching the few players at the wheel. . . . A film of cigar
smoke eddied round the lamps above the tables. Presently the players
at the faro table rose and left. The dealer put away his cases. The
lookout yawned and took off his green eye-shade. The man with the
deformed shoulder and his companion were moving toward White-Eye when
The Spider slipped through the doorway and sidled toward the middle of
the room. His hat was pushed back. He fumbled at his tie with his
right hand. "White-Eye!" he called.

The faro-dealer and the lookout jerked round--then slowly backed toward
the side of the room. The man at the wheel paused with his hand in the
air. The players, intent upon the game, glanced up curiously. Pino,
who stood near White-Eye and almost in front of him, dropped his
cigarette. The room became as still as the noon desert. Three of the
four men who bore ancient grudge against The Spider, knew that there
would be no parley--that talk would be useless. The fourth, the man
whom they had addressed as Steve, had but recently associated himself
with them, and had no quarrel with The Spider. In that tense moment,
Gary wished himself well out of it.

"Lost your nerve, Pino?" laughed The Spider, in his queer, high voice.
"You dropped your cigarette."

One of the roulette players giggled hysterically. At the sound of that
laugh, White-Eye jerked Pino in front of him. The Spider's gun
appeared as though he had caught it from the air. As it roared, Pino
staggered sideways and fell. White-Eye fired as The Spider, throwing
shot after shot, walked slowly