"Don't try nothing till you see me put my hand into my beard, boys. He
don't mean much so long as he's come alone."
Marvin drew back the door. Terry saw a man with shoulders of martial
squareness enter. And there was a touch of the military in his brisk step
and the curt nod he sent at Marvin as he passed the latter. He had not
taken off his sombrero. It cast a heavy shadow across the upper part of
his worn, sad face.
"Evening, sheriff," came from Pollard, and a muttered chorus from the
others repeated the greeting. The sheriff cast his glance over them like
a schoolteacher about to deliver a lecture.
"Evening, boys."
"Sit down, McGuire."
"I'm only staying a minute. I'll talk standing." It was a declaration of
war.
"I guess this is the first time I been up here, Pollard?"
"The very first, sheriff."
"Well, if I been kind of neglectful, it ain't that I'm not interested in
you-all a heap!"
He brought it out with a faint smile; there was no response to that
mirth.
"Matter of fact, I been keeping my eye on you fellows right along. Now, I
ain't up here to do no accusing.
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