The lad had grown sullen. "Damned if I know," he answered. "I can't
make no sense to it." He began to shuffle the cards, fluttering them
together with an angry snap. "He says a good many men have been killed
in this room, or something like that. And he says he's goin' to be
killed here too. I don't know what ails him. He's crazy, I shouldn't
wonder."
Scully then looked for explanation to the cowboy, but the cowboy
simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Kill you?" said Scully again to the Swede. "Kill you? Man, you're off
your nut."
"Oh, I know." burst out the Swede. "I know what will happen. Yes, I'm
crazy--yes. Yes, of course, I'm crazy--yes. But I know one thing--"
There was a sort of sweat of misery and terror upon his face. "I know
I won't get out of here alive."
The cowboy drew a deep breath, as if his mind was passing into the
last stages of dissolution. "Well, I'm dog-goned," he whispered to
himself.
Scully wheeled suddenly and faced his son. "You've been troublin' this
man!"
Johnnie's voice was loud with its burden of grievance. "Why, good
Gawd, I ain't done nothin' to 'im."
The Swede broke in. "Gentlemen, do not disturb yourselves. I will
leave this house. I will go away because"--he accused them
dramatically with his glance--"because I do not want to be killed."
Scully was furious with his son. "Will you tell me what is the matter,
you young divil? What's the matter, anyhow? Speak out!"
"Blame it!" cried Johnnie in despair, "don't I tell you I don't know.
He--he says we want to kill him, and that's all I know. I can't tell
what ails him."
The Swede continued to repeat: "Never mind, Mr. Scully; nevermind. I
will leave this house. I will go away, because I do not wish to be
killed. Yes, of course, I am crazy--yes. But I know one thing! I will
go away. I will leave this house. Never mind, Mr. Scully; never mind.
I will go away."
"You will not go 'way," said Scully. "You will not go 'way until I
hear the reason of this business. If anybody has troubled you I will
take care of him. This is my house. You are under my roof, and I will
not allow any peaceable man to be troubled here." He cast a terrible
eye upon Johnnie, the cowboy, and the Easterner.
"Never mind, Mr. Scully; never mind. I will go away. I do not wish to
be killed." The Swede moved towards the door, which opened upon the
stairs. It was evidently his intention to go at once for his baggage.
"No, no," shouted Scully peremptorily; but the white-faced man slid by
him and disappeared. "Now," said Scully severely, "what does this
mane?"
Johnnie and the cowboy cried together: "Why, we didn't do nothin' to
'im!"