“I knew you were lying.” Bud stepped back and thrust his revolver into the holster. “You are still living with your wife, for she wouldn’t have the documents if you weren’t. A man rarely lies when he is within two seconds of death. You are up to your old tricks, Smithy, and they have never fooled me yet. Now, let’s get down to business. How much do you want?”
“Two thousand dollars.”
“I haven’t got it. You don’t know it, perhaps, but my money is on the hoof out in this country, and cash is very little used. Look here. You bring your wife and that red-headed chap out to Arizona or California and I will set you up in the sheep business. I’ve got herds coming north now, but I’ll turn a thousand back in your name, and by the time you arrive they will be on the southern range. What do you say?”
“I say no,” replied the other in an ugly voice. “I want money, and I’m going to have it. Good old Chi is range enough for me.”
“Well, I can’t give you two thousand because I haven’t got it.”
“What have you got?”
“Five hundred dollars, the pay of my herders.”
“I’ll take that on account, then,” said Caldwell insolently. “When will you have some more?” 34
“Not until the end of July, when the wool has been shipped East.”
“All right. I’ll wait till then. Come on, hand over the five hundred.”