“And you’ve got to agree not to pull me into court over it.”
“If you are pulled into court it will be well worth your while.”
The man stopped, irresolutely.
“I don’t reckon I’ll go along with ye,” he said. “I can’t afford to get Frosty Ike down on me.”
“Who’s Frosty Ike?”
“The worst man in St. Jo. He eats railroad iron when he’s hungry! I wouldn’t make him a bite.”
“Well, now, I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If you lead me to my friend you shall have the twenty-five dollars. If it is true that this Frosty Ike and his gang have not robbed my friend there will be no danger of your getting into court. If they have robbed him I’ll give you a hundred dollars to testify against them, in case I think it best to prosecute. I may not prosecute.”
“You will have to agree not to prosecute before I’ll go any further. I wouldn’t get mixed up with Ike for two hundred dollars.”
Frank was not long deciding. He realized that he could not prosecute Frosty Ike’s gang without having all the facts come out concerning the manner in which Hodge obtained the money, and he concluded to give the man the desired pledge.
He was led to a low quarter of the city near the river. Down among a lot of storehouses they went, and entered one of the old buildings.