"How about it, Boxer? I believe you told me you hold an antipathy against Dutchmen. Will you go down to Schlitzenheimer's with me?"
The dog seemed to hesitate, and then he answered:
"Oh, I don't care; go ahead. I'm not stuck on Dutchmen, but I'll teach this one a lesson."
"All right," said Merry. "Come on."
Benchy triumphantly led the way, being followed by Frank and Bart and the dog, with the crowd at the[Pg 213] heels of them. The Irishman was protesting his wonderment, while the Chinaman chattered excitedly.
Within the hotel a man had been watching and listening. He was a bewhiskered ruffian, and he strode forth and followed the crowd to the Dutchman's saloon. Cimarron Bill watched his tool depart, smiling darkly and muttering to himself:
"Good-by, Bob! You're going up against a hard proposition in Frank Merriwell, and it's not likely you'll call to collect that little sum of money from me. All the same, I hope you get in a shot, for you shoot straight, and you may make a round sum for my pocket, as I'll compel the old lady to lay down the cash. I'll be able to scare her into it by threatening to tell the whole story and bring her into the game as an accomplice. That will yank her around to her feet in short order, I opine."
For all of Bill's reputation as a "killer," he was willing to let this piece of work over to the attention of another.
So Gentle Bob followed Merriwell, an evil purpose in his black heart, nor knew that his employer believed and half-hoped he might be going to his own end.
Benchy burst into the saloon, uttering a cry of triumph.