“Is there something else?” Ned asked.
Green still hesitated, his eyes on the ground.
“Are you sure of your clues?” he asked, then.
“I think so,” was the reply.
“Because, you see,” Green went on, “the government doesn’t want any trap sprung until the whole bilin’ is within reaching distance. After the good work you have done here, I wouldn’t like to have you order the round-up and then find that the men you wanted were still out on the range.”
“Thank you for your frankness,” Ned replied.
“I just want to be sure that you are sure,” smiled Green. “It would mix things for me to make these arrests and have the big ones get away, now, wouldn’t it?”
“Indeed it would,” Ned admitted, “but I think it is safe to go ahead as we planned a moment ago.”
“All right!” Green said, but there was still doubt in his eyes.
“And I’ll accept all the responsibility,” Ned added.