Barney backed after them, his automatic still held in readiness. "I'm
letting you down damned easy, Brainard," he said, hate glittering in
his eyes. "But there's some who won't be so nice!"
With that he closed the door. Until that moment both Hunt and the
Duchess had said nothing. Now the Duchess spoke up:
"I'm glad they've taken Maggie away, Larry. I've seen the way you've
come to feel about her, and she's not the right sort for you."
But Larry was still too dazed by the way in which Maggie had walked
out of his life to make any response.
"But there's a lot in what Barney said about there being some who
wouldn't be easy on you," continued the Duchess. "That word had been
brought me before Barney showed up. So I had this ready for you."
From a slit pocket in her baggy skirt the Duchess drew out a pistol
and handed it to Larry.
"What's this for?" Larry asked.
"I was told that word had gone out to the Ginger Buck Gang to get
you," answered the Duchess. "Barney has some secret connection with
the Ginger Bucks. His saying that you were a stool and a squealer is
not the only thing he's got against you; he's jealous of you on
account of everything--especially Maggie. So you'll need that gun."
"What's this I've fallen into the middle of?" exclaimed Hunt.
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