CHAPTER 24That was the signal for the rush that swept across the floor and left a flood of marveling men around the fallen Landis. On the outskirts of this tide, Donnegan stepped up to two men, Joe Rix and the Pedlar. They greeted him with expectant glances.
“Gentlemen,” said Donnegan, “will you step aside?”
They followed him to a distance from the clamoring group.
“I have to thank you,” said Donnegan.
“For what?”
“For changing your minds,” said Donnegan, and left them.
And afterward the Pedlar murmured with an oddly twisted face: “Cat-eye, Joe. He can see in the dark! But I told you he was worth savin’.”
“Speakin’ in general,” said Joe, “which you ain’t hardly ever wrong when you get stirred up about a thing.”
“He’s something new,” the Pedlar said wisely.
“Ay, he’s rare.”
“But t
