“You talk like a baby,” Dawson answered coldly. “You know how much we have made out of this thing in the past and how much more we can make in the future, and you talk about throwing up the whole thing just for one stroke of bad luck. Now listen to a little reason. If you give up now, all those sheep, including the twenty-five hundred in that other cañon, will have to be sold on a losing market. Nobody knows anything about this except our own men. We’ll put the recount through to-morrow, clean up all suspicion, and carry the twenty-five hundred extras through the summer. Then if you still want to get out we can sell to a good market in the fall. That’s the sensible way to do it.”
“Have it your way, then,” said Jed sullenly, “but remember this. If you don’t get rid of that patrolman inside of ten days I’ll blow the whole thing, so get busy.” He rose as though he had delivered his ultimatum and was ready to leave.
“I’ll attend to Burton,” Dawson answered quietly. “There will not be much trouble in getting rid of him after he falls down on that recount to-morrow. Now we’ll settle those accounts.”
“We’ll settle those after you get rid of that patrolman,” Jed answered doggedly.
“We’ll settle them now,” Dawson answered coldly.
“Don’t try to bully me,” Jed flared angrily, “if I say the word you know what they will do to you.”
“Yes,” Dawson answered contemptuously, “I’d lose my little job, but I doubt if I’d starve. It might be different with you, considering the mortgage I hold on your ranch. According to my figures you owe me two thousand dollars on the business of the last six months.”
Jed sullenly handed over some papers. “Don’t be pushing me too far with that mortgage. It’s not recorded, you know.”
Dawson ignored the threat. He had gained his point and was ready to smooth down his victim’s feelings. “Well, I did not mean to rub it in, Jed. You and I have too good a thing in this business to fight with each other. I’ll attend to this end of the business and I know from experience that you can handle the other end. I’m going to have the super up for that recount in the morning and we’ll rub it into that incorruptible dude in fine shape. Better come up and see the fun.”
“I’ll be there, all right,” Jed replied, very much mollified. “I wouldn’t miss seeing him taken down for considerable. I’d pretty near be willing to drive the other twenty-five hundred sheep over the cliff to make sure of it.”