"I'm allus on hand like a thumb," chuckled the man who had rescued
Bordine.
"You had keys to fit the handcuffs?"
"Took 'em from the bloke's pocket."
"I see."
Then, as he cast the bracelets from him, August bent over the prostrate form of Silas Keene.
"I'm afraid you've seriously injured the man," said August lowly.
"Wal, nobody'll cry ef I have," grated the rescuer, "I expect we'd better make sure of the job and then I kin claim the reward."
"Reward."
"Why, confound it, the rhino you promised me ef I'd knife the cursed beak who was on yer trail."
"Oh yes, to be sure," returned the young engineer, who by this time began to "catch on" to the true situation.