Max Brand

“ Cumberland?" he asked.
"We had a long talk," nodded Dan. "You was wrong about him, doc. He thinks he can do without me."
"What?" cried Kate.
"He thinks he can do without me," said Dan Barry. "We talked it all over."
The silence fell again. Kate Cumberland was staring blankly down at her plate, seeing nothing; and Doctor Byrne looked straight before him and felt the pulse drumming in his throat. His chance, then, was to come. By this time the marshal had recovered his breath.
He said to Dan: "Seems like you been away some time, Dan. Where you been hangin' out?" ”

“ The marshal was a politic man, and he had early in life discovered that the best way to get along with any man was to meet him on his own ground. His opening blast of words at Doctor Byrne was a sample of his art. ”

“ For it is held that shooting at the table disturbs the appetite.
"Good evenin'," said Dan quietly. "Was it Buck Daniels that you seen at Rafferty's place, Marshal Calkins?"
"Him," nodded the marshal, hoarsely. "Yep, Buck Daniels."
And then he sank into his chair, silent for the first time. His eyes followed Barry as though hypnotized. ”