Arizona Round-Up — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ARIZONA ROUNDUP 23 friend is maybe a little different to yourn and my way of think- ing. Youre not my friend. I don’t have many friends.” He slid two silver dollars across the counter, nodded for the waiter to keep the change, and released his grip on the surprised Evergreen’s wrist. Bud Bailey had risen. The sneer that crossed his round face made it dark and ugly. He bared his teeth like an animal. “Particular, huh? Well, the kid’s my friend too, mister, and if he wants to pay fer your meal, he pays. Put the money back on the counter, waiter,” he ordered. “I never went in much fer these fancy fellers who're so darned particular who they meet.” It was a gauntlet thrown down, and Evergreen bent forward as far as he could. That was the best he could do to keep out of the possible line of fire. Tex had cleared him by a step out and forward. Bailey hesitated, knew his own play had been called, made another. A hand flashed down beneath the coat, froze there as he found himself staring blankly down the-barrel of a wom Colt. “Don't try it, mister,” came gently. “Not now or any other time. You two walk across the floor ahead of me until I get to the stairs. I'm kind of particular about who I turn my back on sometimes, too.” It was over so fast, done so quietly, that few of the gamblers had noticed. Only three people had witnessed it all. Up on the balcony Lily Owens stood beside the tall, cadaverous figure of Deacon Sellers, looking down. And standing inside the doorway through which he had just entered was Jed Haraway. Chapter Five ILY WAS pacing the floor of her room impatiently while the Deacon smoked calmly and drank a glass of fine wine comicbooks.com