"
They passed several houses, turned a corner into the main street,
and stopped at a wide, low adobe structure. A number of saddled
horses stood haltered to posts. Mexicans lolled around the wide
doorway.
"There's Ben Chase now over on the corner," said Belding to Dick.
"See, the tall man with the white hair, and leather band on his
hat. He sees us. He knows there's something up. He's got men
with him. They'll come over. We're after the young buck, and
sure he'll be in here."
They entered. The place was a hall, and needed only a bar to make
it a saloon. There were two rickety pool tables. Evidently Chase
had fitted up this amusement room for his laborers as well as for
the use of his engineers and assistants, for the crowd contained
both Mexicans and Americans. A large table near a window was
surrounded by a noisy, smoking, drinking circle of card-players.
"Point out this Radford Chase to me," said Gale.
"There! The big fellow with the red face. His eyes stick out a
little. See! He's dropped his cards and his face isn't red any
more."
Dick strode across the room.
Belding grasped Mr. Gale and whispered hoarsely: "Don't miss anything.
It 'll be great. Watch Dick and watch Laddy! If there's any gun
play, dodge behind me."
Belding smiled with a grim pleasure as he saw Mr. Gales' face turn
white.
Dick halted beside the table. His heavy boot shot up, and with a
crash the table split, and glasses, cards, chips flew everywhere.
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