“I on’y hopes as how it’s well afore we skip outen this hole,” the sufferer went on to say, still unappeased. “If we git in a tight hole I’d need both my fins to do business with. A one-handed 238 man ain’t got much chance to slip away when the cornfield cops make a raid.”
“They ain’t goin’ to bother us any! Make up yer mind to that same, boy,” continued the tall vagrant, complacently. “When the time comes, an’ the weather lets up on us a bit, why, we’ll jest flit outen this region by the back door. I’m only mad as hops ’bout one thing.”
“Yep, an’ I know what it be, ’cause ye been harpin’ on that subject right along, Billy. Yer disapp’inted ’cause the old man didn’t have a bigger haul in his cracked safe.”
“Well, that’s what ails me,” admitted the other in a grumbling way. “We’d a been fixed fur a year to come if only he’d had a good wad lyin’ low, ’stead of a measly bunch of the long green.”
“Better luck next time, Billy, say I,” continued the shorter tramp, as he finished fastening the soiled rag about his left hand and wrist.
It can be easily understood that Paul had heard quite enough by this time. There was not the slightest doubt in the world that Billy and his partner had been guilty of setting fire to Mr. Briggs’ store, and had also broken open his ancient safe to extract whatever amount of money happened to be in it at the time.
Paul drew back and touched each one of his companions in turn. They knew just what the 239 gesture he made signified. The time for action had come, and they were thus invited to take part with him in the holding up of the desperate pair.
That the tramps belonged to this class of wandering criminals there could not be the least doubt after hearing snatches of their conversation. This affair of Mr. Briggs’ store was apparently but one of many similar episodes in their careers.
The little party now proceeded to creep around to the front of the shack. They knew, of course, that the door had been repaired and that it was also closed tightly, but Paul hardly believed they would find any difficulty in pushing it open.
Arriving at the point that was to witness their sudden attack, Paul marshaled his followers in a compact mass. He meant to imitate in some degree the flying wedge used upon the football field with such good effect.