"It's all in the same boat we are. You've a notion in the back par-rt of your head, Misther Eckstein; lave us have it."
"As I've said, we can't stick at trifles. If Adair's train is on the extension, it mustn't get here. Somebody goes up the line on a hand-car to-night and stops it."
"Is it to ditch it, ye mane?" asked the youngest of the brothers in a hoarse whisper.
Eckstein laughed cynically. "What a lot of crude cutthroats you are!" he jeered. "Now if it were Ford, instead of Adair—but pshaw! a rail or two taken up and flung into the river well beyond walking distance from this camp does the business. Only the man who does it wants to make sure he has gone far enough back to cover all the possible chances."
"That's me," said Dan MacMorrogh; and he rose and let himself out, with the younger brother to lock the door behind him.
The door-keeping attended to, the younger brother drew closer into the circle.
"There's wan thing," he said, looking furtively at Eckstein. "I was in Copah this day: I got the buckboards for Misther Colbrith. Goin' past the bank, who would I see but our old bookkeeper, Merriam, chinnin' wid the bank president. I thought he was out o' the way entirely."
Stiff and saddle-sore as he was, Eckstein leaped out of his chair with an oath.
"Merriam? What the devil is he back here for? It's a put-up job!"
It was the chief of the MacMorroghs who flung in the calming word.