83“Eh–eh–that’s none of your business,” bleated Dusty Rhodes, whose trip to Los Angeles had proved disastrous. “And if Wunpost gave Hungry that sack of ore he stole it from some other feller’s mine. I knowed all along he’d locate that Black P’int if I ever let him stop–I’ve had my eye on it for years–and that’s why I hurried by. I discovered it myself, only I never told nobody–he must have heard me talking in my sleep!”
“Yes, or when you were drunk!” suggested Wilhelmina maliciously. “I hear you got robbed in Los Angeles. And anyhow I’m glad, because you stole that five thousand dollars, and no good ever came from stolen property.”
“Oh, it didn’t, hey?” sneered Dusty, who was recovering his poise, “well, I’ll bet ye this rock was stolen! And if that’s the case, where does your young man git off, that you think the world and all of? But you’ve got to show me that he ever saw this rock–I believe old Hungry was lying to you!”
“Well, don’t let me keep you!” cried Billy, bowing mockingly. “Go on over and ask him yourself–but I’ll bet you don’t dare to meet Wunpost!”
“How come Hungry to tell you?” burst out Dusty Rhodes at last, and Wilhelmina smiled mysteriously.
“That’s none of your business, my busy little man,” she mimicked in patronizing tones, “but I’ve got a piece of that rock right up at the house. You go back there and mother will show it to you.”
“I’m going on!” answered Dusty with instant 84decision; “can’t stop to make no visit today. They’s a big rush coming–every burro-man in Blackwater–and some of them are legging it afoot. But that thieving son of a goat, he never found no mine! I know it–it can’t be possible!”
85CHAPTER IX
A NEW DEAL
The rush of burro-men to Hungry Bill’s ranch followed close in Dusty Rhodes’ wake, and some there were who came on foot; but they soon came stringing back, for it was a fine, large country and Hungry Bill was about as communicative as a rattlesnake. All he knew, or cared to know, was the price of corn and fruit, which he sold at Blackwater prices; and the search for Wunpost had only served to show to what lengths a man will go for revenge. In some mysterious way Wunpost had acquired a horse and mule, both sharp-shod for climbing over rocks, and he had dallied at Hungry Bill’s until the first of the stampeders had come in sight on the Panamint trail. Then he had set out up the ridge, riding the horse and packing the mule, and even an Indian trailer had given out and quit without ever bringing them in sight of him again. He had led them such a chase that the hardiest came back satisfied, and they agreed that he could keep his old mine.