“So that’s it—that’s it!” exclaimed Dick, “My brother’s enemies have paid you for this piece of work.”
“That’s one of the little things you has to guess about,” hoarsely chuckled Dillon. “Thar’s a bunk in the corner. I sure opines this place is stout enough to hold you, and all the while Mat or I sits in the next room. If we hears you kick up restless-like, we comes to soothe you. We’re great at soothing—eh, Mat?”
“Great!” agreed Mat.
“If you has a good appetite,” continued Dillon, “in the morning we gives you a square feed. Oh, we treats you fine, kid—we treats you fine. We has orders to be ca’m and gentle with you. We’re jest as gentle as two playful kittens—eh, Mat?”
“Jest so,” agreed Mat.
“Of course, you being young, it disturbs you some to be introduced to us so sudden-like. Still, you seems to have a lot of nerve. You don’t git trembly any, and you looks a heap courageous with them fine black eyes of yours. By smoke! I almost believes you has it in yer ter tackle us both, kid; but you’d better not—you’d better not. It does no good, and it ruffles our feelings, although we is so ca’m and gentle. When our feelings is ruffled we are a heap bad—eh, Mat?”
“Sure,” agreed Mat.
“That’s about all,” said Dillon. “Now we bids you a pleasant good night, and we hopes you sleeps sweet and dreams agreeable dreams—eh, Mat?”
“We does,” nodded Mat.
Then they backed out through the door behind them, which led into the front room of the building, leaving Dick in darkness, as the door was closed and barred.