“Mebbe I plays my cards slick and proper,” chuckled Shawmut. “You sees I don’t care to be suspected now.”
“Well, partner, if I tells you, does you opine you’re ready to stick by me?”
“Share even and I am ready for anything,” was the assurance.
“Mr. Merriwell he proposes hiking out soon to locate that thar claim o’ Benson Clark’s. I am none in a hurry about getting away from here, so I lingers. When he hikes I follers. When he locates the claim mebbe he has to leave it; mebbe I jump it; mebbe I gits it recorded first. If he don’t suspect me any, if he don’t know I’m arter it, he don’t hurry any about having it recorded. That gives me time to get ahead of him. If you’re with me in this, we goes even on the claim. It’s a heap resky, for this yere Merriwell is dangerous to deal with. Is it settled?”
“Yere’s my hand,” said Kip Henry.
Shawmut clasped the proffered hand, and the compact was made.
CHAPTER II—DAYS OF RETRIBUTION.
CHAPTER II.