The saloon-keeper was in the act of replacing the whisky bottle under the counter, having just served his fresh customers, when his foxy eyes encountered the dark face of the man he most hated on Yellow Creek.
In a moment he was all smiles.
"Howdy, Buck," he cried, as though the sight of him was the one thing in the world he desired. Then he covertly winked at those nearest him.
His wink conveyed all he intended, and the men turned and eyed the newcomer curiously.
Buck responded to the greeting indifferently, and proceeded to business. He had not come for the pleasure of the visit. He passed a slip of paper across the counter.
"Can you do them for me?" he inquired. "Just cast an eye over that list. If you'll get 'em put up I'll ride in in the mornin' an' fetch 'em out. I'll need 'em early."
His manner was short and cold. It was his way with Beasley, but now there was more in his mind to make for brevity.
Beasley studied the paper closely. And as he read down the list a smile spread over his mean face. It was a long list of supplies which included rifle and revolver ammunition. He whistled softly.
"Mackinaw!" Then he looked up into the dark eyes of the waiting man, and his own expressed an unwonted good-humor. "Say, wot's doin' at the fort? Gettin' ready for a siege? Or--or are you an' the Padre chasin' the long trail?"
Buck's thin cheeks flushed as he pointed at the paper.
"You can do that for me?" he inquired still more coldly.
Beasley shot a swift glance round at the interested faces of the men standing by.
"Oh, guess I can do it," he said, his eyes twinkling. "Sure I can do it. Say, you fellers ain't lightin' out?"
He winked again. This time it was deliberately at Buck.
"They're winter stores," said Buck shortly.
Then, as Beasley laughed right out, and he became aware of a general smile at his expense, he grew hot.
"What's the matter?" he demanded sharply. And his demand was not intended for the saloon-keeper alone.
"Ke'p your shirt on, Buck," exclaimed Beasley, with studied good-nature. "We couldn't jest help but laff." Then his eyes became sentimentally serious. "Y' see, we bin worried some. We wus guessin' when you came along. Y' see, ther's a sheriff an' a big posse o' dep'ties comin' right along to this yer camp. Y' see, ther's some guy chasin' around the hills, an' he's wanted fer--murder."
The man was watching for an effect in Buck's face. But he might as well have looked for expression in that of a sphinx.