e above the big refrigerator Charlie See raised his head to peer
between the interstices and curlicues of the woodwork so he might
look after this later prodigal. Charlie was really quite touched, and
he warmed toward the prodigal all the more because that evildoer had
wasted no regret on wickedness, but had gone straight to the root of
the matter and reserved his remorse for the more serious offense. This
was Charlie's own view in the matter of fools; and he was tolerant of
all opinion which matched his own. But Charlie did not wear a
sympathetic look; he munched contentedly on a cheese sandwich.

"Never mind Travis," said the Merman. "Let him go. The little fool
won't peach, and that's the main thing. I'm going after Dines now, if
we did make a bad start. There's plenty of us here, and I can wake up
two of my dealers who will stand hitched. And that ain't all. A bunch
from the mines will drop down for a snifter at eleven o'clock, when
the graveyard shift goes on and they come off. I'll pick out those I
can trust. Some of 'em are tough enough to suit even Travis--though I
doubt if they'd take any kinder to pool balls than you boys did--not
till they got used to 'em. I don't blame you fellows. Billiard balls
are something new."

"We want to get a move on, before the moon gets up," said Weir.

"Oh, that's all right! Lots of time. We'll stretch Mr. Dines, moonrise
or not," said the Merman reassuringly. "But we'll meet the night shift
at the bridge as they come off, and save a lot of time. Let's see
now--Ames, Vet Blackman, Kroner, Shaw, Lithpin Tham--"

On the refrigerator, Charlie See put by his lunch. He fished out a
tally book and pencil and began taking down names.

* * * * *

Charlie See raced to Perrault's door a little before eleven. He
slipped in without a summons, he closed the door behind him and leaned
his back against it. The waiting men rose to meet him--Perrault,
Maginnis, Preisser, and a fourth, whom Charlie did not know.

"Come on to the jail, Maginnis! The gang have closed up the Mermaid
and they are now organizing their lynchin' bee. We've just time to
beat 'em to it!"

"How many?" asked Perrault, reaching up for a rifle.

"You don't go, Perrault. This is no place for a family man."

"But, Spinal--"

"Shut up! No married man in this. Nor you, Preisser. You're too old.
Mr. See, this is Buck Hamilton. Shall we get someone else? Shaky
Akins? Where's Lull?"

"Lul