Goaded to the last ditch of desperation, Jim Duff now strode over to where Tom stood. No one opposed him, nor did Reade's smile fail.
“Boy, you've had your laugh, just now,” announced the gambler, in his most threatening, tone. “It will be your last laugh.”
“You will know more within twenty-four hours. You have treated me, with your own crowd about you, like a dog.”
“You're wrong again,” laughed Tom.. “Jim is fond of dogs. They are fine fellows.”
“You may laugh as much as you want, just now,” jeered Jim Duff. “You've made an enemy, and one of the worst in Arizona! I won't waste any more talk on you--except to warn you.”
“Warn me? About what?” asked Tom curiously.
Instead of answering, Jim Duff turned on his heel, stalking off with a majesty that, somehow, looked sadly damaged.
“He has warned you,” murmured Superintendent Hawkins in an undertone. “That is your hint that Duff will fight you to the death at the first opportunity.”
“May it be long in coming!” uttered Tom devoutly.
Then, as he turned about and saw scores of laborers coming in his direction, Reade remembered what he wished to do.
“Mr. Hawkins,” he continued, turning toward the superintendent, “I see that Mr. Payson's gang is coming in from work. As all our men are now idle, I wish you would direct the foremen to see that all hands assemble here. I have something to say to them.”
Within ten minutes the five hundred laborers and mechanics had been gathered in a compact crowd. Now that the excitement of hustling the gambler off the scene had died away, many of the men were sorry that they had not made their disapproval plainer. Though Tom Reade plainly understood the mood of the men, he mounted a barrel, holding up both hands as a sign for silence.
“Now, men,” he began, “you all know that the pay train is due here this afternoon. You are all eager to get your money--for what? It is a strange fact that gold is the carrion that draws all of the vultures. A few minutes ago you saw one of the vultures here, preparing to get his supposed share of your money away from you. Does Jim Duff care a hang about any of you? Do any of you care anything whatever for Jim Duff? Then why should you be so eager to get into one of his tents and let him take your money away from you?