“No, not a bit of it! He’s dead years ago.”
“And I suppose you scooped his share, too. You must be a smart set.”
“Thanks for the compliment, lieutenant. Reckon we are smart; but then, you see, it runs in the blood. Both of my grandfathers were bankers and brokers, and knew how to turn things to the best advantage.”
“It’s a wonder Pennington and these others didn’t kick at being squeezed.”
“They did kick; but it didn’t do ’em no good, not a bit. We had the whip hand, an’ we kept it. Pennington’s widow raised a big row, so father has told me; but it ended in smoke.”
“You held the evidence and kept it.”
“You hit the nail on the head ag’in lieutenant. We are smart, and we are the people.” Nuggy Polk gave a long, drunken yawn. “This looks as if Jerry wasn’t coming back. Say, I’ve an idea.”
“Well?”
“Can’t you carry me back to Manila on your hoss?”
“I don’t believe the pony will carry the weight.”