Jackson Gregory

“ Steele went to a chair across the table from his host and sat down. Reagan stood where he was, his hands on his hips, looking down at him. In spite of himself, Steele felt rising within him his old admiration of the man; the poise of the powerful and yet graceful body, the frank look of the wide-spaced eyes, the very carriage of the shaggy head inspired approval of the physical man. And when Reagan put himself out to be affable, as he was plainly bent on doing to-day, he was not without a strange charm of personality. ”

“ For many a time had he and Reagan lunched or dinned together, either at some hotel or in Reagan's own rooms. For Reagan stood apart from other crooks even as he stood apart from, and often above, other men whom Steele knew. He was the quarry of many stern and eager men, and he knew it, and, further, was inclined to look upon the whole thing as a great bit of sport, a game of kings, as he liked to call it. He had said many times frankly to Steele, to Johnnie Margrave, and to Lieutenant Kilgore and perhaps to others: “We're on opposite sides and we're all in it to a finish. ”

“ But is that any reason we shouldn't appreciate and enjoy one another? You are like hunters out after the big king of the forest; do such hunters have to hate a lion just because they go out gunning for him? ”