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The day was already hot with the dry； breathless； but exhilarating； beat
of the desert。 A throng of men idling at the edge of the sidewalks；
jostling up and down their centre； or eddying into the places of amusement；
acknowledged the power of summer by loosening their collars； carrying
their coats on their arms。 They were as yet busily engaged in recognising
acquaintances。 Later they would drink freely and gamble； and perhaps
fight。 Toward all but those whom they recognised they preserved an
attitude of potential suspicion； for here were gathered the 〃bad men〃 of the
border countries。 A certain jealousy or touchy egotism lest the other man
be considered quicker on the trigger； bolder； more aggressive than himself；
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kept each strung to tension。 An occasional shot attracted little notice。
Men in the cow…countries shoot as casually as we strike matches； and
some subtle instinct told them that the reports were harmless。 As the
rider entered the one street； however； a more definite cause of excitement
drew the loose population toward the centre of the road。 Immediately
their mass blotted out what had interested them。 Curiosity attracted the
saunterers； then in turn the frequenters of the bars and gambling games。
In a very few moments the barkeepers； gamblers； and look…out men； held
aloof only by the necessities of their calling； alone of all the population of
Pereza were not included in the newly…formed ring。 The stranger
pushed his horse resolutely to the outer edge of the crowd where； from his
point of vantage； he could easily overlook their heads。 He was a quiet…
appearing young fellow； rather neatly dressed in the border costume； rode
a 〃centre fire；〃 or single…cinch； saddle； and wore no chaps。 He was what
is known as a 〃two…gun man〃： that is to say； he wore a heavy Colt's
revolver on either hip。 The fact that the lower ends of his holsters were
tied down； in order to facilitate the easy withdrawal of the revolvers；
seemed to indicate that he expected to use them。 He had furthermore a
quiet grey eye； with the glint of steel that bore out the inference of the tied
holsters。 The newcomer dropped his reins on his pony's neck； eased
himself to an attitude of attention； and looked down gravely on what was
taking place。 He saw over the heads of the bystanders a tall； muscular；
wild…eyed man； hatless； his hair rumpled into staring confusion； his right
sleeve rolled to his shoulder； a wicked…looking nine…inch knife in his hand；
and a red bandana handkerchief hanging by one corner from his teeth。
〃What's biting the locoed stranger？〃 the young man inquired of his
neighbour。 The other frowned at him darkly。 〃Dare's anyone to
take the other end of that handkerchief in his teeth； and fight it out without
letting go。〃 〃Nice joyful proposition；〃 commented the young man。
He settled himself to closer attention。 The wild…eyed man was talking
rapidly。 What he said cannot be printed here。 Mainly was it derogatory
of the southern countries。 Shortly it became boastful of the northern； and
then of the man who uttered it。
He swaggered up and down； becoming always the more insolent as his
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challenge remained untaken。 〃Why don't you take him up？〃 inquired
the young man； after a moment。 〃Not me！〃 negatived the other
vigorously。 〃I'll go yore little old gunfight to a finish； but I don't want
any cold steel in mine。 Ugh！ it gives me the shivers。 It's a reg'lar
Mexican trick！ With a gun it's down and out； but this knife work is too
slow and searchin'。〃
The newcomer said nothing； but fixed his eye again on the raging man
with the knife。
〃Don't you reckon he's bluffing？ 〃be inquired。
〃Not any！〃 denied the other with emphasis。 〃He's jest drunk enough to
be crazy mad。〃
The newcomer shrugged his shoulders and cast his glance searchingly
over the fringe of the crowd。 It rested on a Mexican。 〃Hi； Tony！ come
here；〃 he called。 The Mexican approached； flashing his white teeth。
〃Here；〃 said the stranger； 〃lend me your knife a minute。〃 The
Mexican； anticipating sport of his own peculiar kind； obeyed with alacrity。
〃You fellows make me tired；〃 observed the stranger； dismounting。 〃He's
got the whole townful of you bluffed to a standstill。 Damn if I don't try
his little game。〃 He hung his coat on his saddle； shouldered his way
through the press； which parted for him readily； and picked up the other
corner of the handkerchief。 〃Now； you mangy son of a gun；〃 said he。
CHAPTER THREE THE AGREEMENT
Jed Parker straightened his back； rolled up the bandana handkerchief；
and thrust it into his pocket； hit flat with his hand the touselled mass of his
hair； and thrust the long hunting knife into its sheath。 〃You're the man
I want；〃 said he。
Instantly the two…gun man had jerked loose his weapons and was
covering the foreman。 〃AM I！〃 he snarled。 Not jest that
way；〃 explained Parker。 〃My gun is on my hoss； and you can have this old
toad…sticker if you want it。 I been looking for you； and took this way of
finding you。 Now； let's go talk。〃 The stranger looked him in the
eye for nearly a half minute without lowering his revolvers。 〃I go
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you；〃 said he briefly； at last。 But the crowd； missing the purport；
and in fact the very occurrence of this colloquy； did not understand。 It
thought the bluff had been called； and naturally； finding harmless what had
intimidated it； gave way to an exasperated impulse to get even。
〃You bluffer！〃 shouted a voice； 〃don't you think you can run any
such ranikaboo here！〃 Jed Parker turned humorously to his
companion。 〃Do we get that talk？〃 he inquired gently。