All the slight veneer of polish that Duff
usually affected had vanished now. His eyes blazed with rage as he
doubled his fist and struck Reade full in the face, knocking him down.
One of the bystanders jerked Tom to his feet.
"Speaking of the square deal," Tom observed, "I now insist upon it.
Duff, you knocked me down when my hands were tied. If you're not a
coward I request that you order my hands freed--and then repeat your
blow if you dare."
"You'll stay tied," retorted Duff grimly.
"I knew it," sighed Reade. "What's the use of talking about honor and
square dealing where a gambler is concerned? Loaded dice, marked cards
or tying a man before you dare to hit him--it's all the same to your
kind."
"Shut up that talk, you hound, or I'll pound you stiff before we go on
with what's been arranged for you!" raged the gambler, shaking his
clenched fist in the face of the young engineer.
"Go slowly, Jim," advised one of the men present. "Of course we know
what we're to do to this young pup, and we all know what he thinks of
you.
Pages:
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229