“He’s a good one at telling ’em,” said the store-keeper. “I don’t place no credit in what he says.”
“Well, it won’t do any harm to investigate,” replied Jackson. “You hold him, while I light my lantern and take a look under the bridge.”
“He may try to get away from me,” said Marvelling, as he surveyed Matt’s tall and well-built form with some trepidation. “He would most likely do anything to keep out of jail.”
“I have more at stake than you have,” cried the young auctioneer.
“Indeed?”
“Yes, sir. I consider my reputation worth considerably more than a paltry forty-five dollars.”
“Do you? Well, to me the reputation of a traveling and swindling auctioneer isn’t worth much!” grumbled Isaac Marvelling.
“You may regret those words,” was Matt’s brief reply; and for the time being he said no more.
In the meanwhile Jackson had struck a match and lit the somewhat smoky lantern he carried.