"Now, what have you done?"
For answer Leander showed me three five dollar gold pieces in the palm of his hand.
"Each one of those chaps thinks that one of the other two has the gold piece. I just pretended to give it to one of 'em, jingled my coin, and then put it back, I didn't give 'em a cent. Each one thought I had given it to the other two. How could they tell, they were blind, don't you see."
I reached for my hat.
"I'm going to get out of here."
Leander pulled me back.
"Not just yet, wait a few moments. Listen."
"Vail, vail," cried the Dutchman, beginning to get red. "You doand vants to cheats Missus Amaloa, den berhaps—yes, Zhim," he cried to the Indian, "pay oop, or ees ut you den, Meest'r Paites, dat hab dose finf thalers?"
"No have got," gurgled the Indian, swaying in his place as he canted the neck of the whiskey bottle towards his lips.
"I thought you had the money," protested Mr. Bates, the lavender man, "you or Jim."