As quick as a flash Hashknife swung his billiard cue in a short arc, struck Prentice’s right wrist a sharp blow, knocking the g*n out of his hand. But the force of the blow also caused Prentice to jerk back on the trigger, and the g*n went off before it clattered to the floor. The bullet drove into the floor just short of the poker table.
Len Ayres whirled at the report of the g*n, and Hashknife saw as swift a piece of g*n play as he ever saw in his life. Len had whirled, drawn his g*n and was backing away, swinging the muzzle of his g*n menacingly, almost before the thud of the shot had died away in the room.
But all he saw was Charley Prentice, clinging to his right wrist with his left hand, the g*n on the floor at his feet, and Hashknife dangling a billiard cue in his two hands.
The
