Because of the absorbing play none considered the strange ways of
the Swede. They paid strict heed to the game. Finally, during a lull
caused by a new deal, the Swede suddenly addressed Johnnie: "I suppose
there have been a good many men killed in this room." The jaws of
the others dropped and they looked at him.
"What in hell are you talking about?" said Johnnie.
The Swede laughed again his blatant laugh, full of a kind of false
courage and defiance. "Oh, you know what I mean all right," he
answered.
"I'm a liar if I do!" Johnnie protested. The card was halted, and
the men stared at the Swede. Johnnie evidently felt that as the son of
the proprietor he should make a direct inquiry. "Now, what might you
be drivin' at, mister?" he asked. The Swede winked at him. It was a
wink full of cunning. His fingers shook on the edge of the board. "Oh,
maybe you think I have been to nowheres. Maybe you think I'm a
tenderfoot?"
"I don't know nothin' about you," answered Johnnie, "and I don't
give a damn where you've been. All I got to say is that I don't know
what you're driving at. There hain't never been nobody killed in
this room."
The cowboy, who had been steadily gazing at the Swede, then spoke.
"What's wrong with you, mister?"
Apparently it seemed to the Swede that he was formidably menaced. He
shivered and turned white near the corners of his mouth.
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