“Of course not,” said Ducky stoutly. “You’re not to blame. Besides, I don’t believe we should ever have recovered that money. That crowd got it, all right—I know that anyway. I knew it before, but I didn’t know that I knew it—wasn’t sure; not sure enough, for instance, to sanction an attempt to take it by force.”
“Yes,” assented Neighbor musingly. “I thought of that. That’s why I took you up to Baca’s place with me. I sure wasn’t expectin’ an ambush, though. Pretty smart fellow, Baca!”
“Yes; and if we had tried force we might jolly well have been killed,” said Drake brightening.
“Maybe it’s all turned out for the best, Ducky. Well, let’s go in.”
“That’s a heavy bag you have there,” said Ducky, lifting it.
“Yes,” said Neighbor carelessly. “A good share of it was gold.”
“A good share—huh? Whadda you mean—gold?”
“Why, your uncle’s estate. It’s in there, under my clothes. Beck had it in a new bag, but I put it in mine when I counted it.”
“What!”
“Don’t say what—say sir! Beck, he stole it from his pals last night. They ain’t found it out yet; but Tavy will be untyin’ Beck about now.”