The Killer

was garnished with sheets and counterpane, its chairs were upholstered and in perfect repair and polish. It was not Arizona, emphatically not, but rather the sweet and garnished a

and a change of underwear. The latter

y to every chance wayfarer. Arizona is a democratic country, Lord knows: none more so! But owners are not likely to invite in strange cowboys unless they themselves mess with their own men. I gave it up, and tried unsuccessfully to shrug it off my mind, and sought distraction in looking about me. There was not much to see. The one d

kerchief necktie fashion; slicked down my wet hair, and tried to imagine myself decently turned out for company. I took off my gun belt also; but

t thick, a windless evening, and an hour after sunset, stillness was to be expected. That did not satisfy. Silence is made up of a thousand little noises so accustomed that they pass over the consciousness. Som

ooper was there waiting. A hanging lamp had been lighted. Out of

er, Mr.--"

n," I s

distinguished company." He pronounced the words suavely, without a trace of sarcastic emphasis, yet somehow

row. She was simply dressed in some sort of white stuff. I thought she dro

rd and dusty in my cowboy rig; and rather too large. The same Mexican served us, deftly. We had delightful food, well cooked. I do not remember what it was. My attention was divided between the old man and his daughter. He talked, urb

de a single frog began to chirp. My host's flow of words eddied, ceased. He raised his head uneasily; then, without

was low and sweet, but either I or my aroused

Spanish, "I am chil

ed across, and thrust into mine a small, folded paper. The next instant she was back in her place, staring down as before in ap

always monosyllabic answers. Twice I caught the flash of lanterns beyond the darkened window; and a subdued, confused murmur as though s

ithout apology or explanation resumed his seat

ealed, and well concealed, a bitter irony. His manner was detached and a little precise. Every few moments he burst into a flurry of activity with the fly whacker, darting here and there as his eyes fell upon one of the insects; but returning always calmly to his discourse with an air of never having moved fr

ertly. Sure enough, after a few repetitions I saw subtle signs of uneasiness, of divided attention; and soon, again without apology

g above reached me. All I could do was to wander about looking at the objects in the cabinet and the pictures on the walls. There was, I remember, a set of carved ivory chessmen and an engraving

hen backing me into a corner with an array of well-considered phrases that allowed me no opening for reply nor even comment. In

nd without waiting for a reply s

t he played good things. Also that, for the first time, he came out of himself, abandoned himself t

ano and arose, more dr

arked, "and that you are ready for your bed. Here is a short doc

et of my shirt along with the note handed me earlier in the evening by t

examined the first of the papers I drew from my pocket. I

be careful for he is a dangerous man. My room is the last one on the left wing of the court. I am con

f had given me. It was similar in

indictive and cruel and dangerous. Beware for yourself. I live in

and then at the other, and for a half hour I thought all the thoughts app