"But I don't know that there's oil here," Pell argued.
Lopez laughed. "No?" Then, to Hardy, "You? You don't know, eizer, I s'pose?"
"I thought there might be—that's all."
The bandit gave a hearty laugh. "Oh!" he exclaimed, almost consumed with mirth. "I see I do business wiz business men—wise business men. Bueno! Now we three business men togezzer, eh? Suppose I shall show you where ze oil is. What zen?" He looked around the room, as if he thought everybody should be interested; and indeed everyone was. Little gasps came from Hardy and Pell, and Uncle Henry wiggled his chair up closer.
"Show us where she is?" Hardy asked, breathless.
"Si," Lopez answered.
"There is oil here?" Pell asked excitedly.
Another cigarette went into the bandit's mouth. "Should I waste time talking of what ain't?" he drily said.
Hardy was still skeptical. "You know there's oil on this ranch?"
"I 'ave know so for a long time."