“No,” said Neighbor; “they cannot. I’ll make a note of it. We’ll not squeal and we’ll not cheat; but we’ll give ’em their come-uppances someway. I do not, as a general thing, hold myself up for the admiration of the good and wise; but I must say that I’ve always got what I went after if I wanted it hard enough.”
“‘Don’t flinch; don’t foul; hit the line hard!’” said Roger. The words snapped like a lash.
“Who said that? He did? Good for him once! And I want this, hard. When I get my auger in I’ll give it another twist for you, Mr. Ducky, in case you are not here. You haven’t lost much anyhow. That’s funny too! Huh! Our tinhorn friend noticed that. Seems like they didn’t want to rob you; and yet your wool was enough sight longer’n mine. I don’t get the idea. I like to understand things as I go along.”
“I won away quite a wad, all right; but you might say I wasn’t a loser at all compared to what I was two or three nights ago. I was certain-lee in bad!” Ducky performed a hospitable rite. “Well, we’ll have to give up poker at Beck’s. Here’s how!”
“That brings me up to the main point,” said Neighbor casually. “What have you been and gone and done? Because a gentleman just offered me the highest market price for your scalp.”
“What?”
“He wanted me to abate you—to abolish you—to beef you—to murder you! Don’t be so dumb! So I thought I’d drop in and get your views.”
“What’s the joke?”
“It’s no joke. This hombre sure wants you killed off. You’ll save time by taking that for proved. And,” said Neighbor wistfully, “I needed the money too.”
“But who—who——”