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 and

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

dkerchief 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

r, 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