"Mind if I talk to you a while, Bruce?" he asked, serious, preoccupied in his manner.
"Tickled to death, Benny; your conversation generally is enlightenin' an' interestin'."
This provoked only a faint flash of a smile from the other. Bayard kicked a wooden box along beside the building and both seated themselves on it. An interval of silence, which the miner broke by saying abruptly:
"I've done somethin', Bruce, that I don't like to keep to myself. I'm planning on doin' somethin' more that I want somebody to know so that if anything happens, folks'll understand.
"I come to you,"--marking the ground with the edge of his shoe sole, "because you're th' only man I know in this country--an' I know most of 'em--I'd trust."
"Them bouquets are elegant, Benny." Bayard laughed, trying to relieve the tension of the other. "Go ahead, I love 'em!"
"You know what I mean, Bruce. You've always played square with everybody 'round here, not mindin' a great deal about what other folks done so long as they was open an' honest about it. You've never stole calves, you've never been in trouble with your neighbors--"
"Hold on, Benny! You don't know how many calves I've stole."
The other smiled and put aside Bayard's attempt at levity with a gesture of one hand.
"You understand how it is, when a fellar's just got to talk?"
"I understand," said Bayard. "I've been in that fix myself, recent."
He shifted on the box and pulled his hat down over his eyes and said:
"I tried to kill a feller th' other night. I didn't make good. I'm likely to make another try some time, an' go through with it."
Bayard waited for more, with a queer thrill of realization.
"You know this pup Lytton, don't you, Bruce? Yes, everybody does, th' ----! I tried to get him th' other night in Yavapai. I thought I'd done it an' lit out, but I heard later I only nicked his arm. That means I've got to do it later."
"It's that necessary to kill him, is it, Benny?" Bayard asked. "I know he was hit.... Fact is, I found him an' took him into th' Hotel an' fixed him up."
Their gazes met. Benny Lynch's was peculiarly devoid of anger, steady and frank.
"That was like you, Bruce. You'd take care of a sick wolf, I guess. Next time, though, I'll give somebody a job as a gravedigger, 'stead of a good Samaritan....