"In the first place," Frank distinctly heard Dodge say, "Ben File is dead."
"Say you so?" exclaimed Bill, and his voice indicated regret. "I allow I'm a-plenty sorry."
"It was bad work."
"That's right. Don't know how I happened to do anything like that. Never did afore. I saw Merriwell make a jump, and I thought from the way he done it the bullet sure had gone clean through him."
"And you never touched him!"
"Don't rub it in harder than you kin help, Mr. Dodge!"
"Hush! Don't speak that name here! It must not get out that I'm in this game! It would ruin me!"
"That's all right, pard; no danger. Hear the racket out yonder in that room. Nobody would ever think o' tryin' to hear what we're sayin'."
"Still it will be better to keep on calling me Lewis. It's a dangerous game we've tackled, and I want to get it through in a hurry now. That's why I'm here."
"Waal, whatever do you say is the next move?"