“All right. But how do we know you won’t spring the stuff later?”
Shayne pulled the tobacco can from his pocket. “We three and Two-Deck Bryant are the only ones who know about this stuff. If we burn them right now, no one else will ever know.”
“But how about that Bryant fellow?”
Shayne eyed him coldly. “I don’t believe Bryant will make any trouble. Suppose he does? We three can deny it. The word of an ex-con like Bryant wouldn’t be worth a damn in court anyhow.”
“But there are other clippings, probably other pictures just like that one,” Windrow remonstrated.
“Sure, there are. But they, of themselves, don’t prove anything. No one can identify Screwloose Pete from the old pictures. You said so yourself last night. The only value of the stuff as evidence is because it was found in Pete’s cabin where he had hidden it away.”
“That’s right, by golly.” Strenk slapped his thigh and laughed excitedly.
But Jasper’s suspicious gaze continued to bore into Shayne’s face. “Don’t think I’ll be fool enough to trust you. What’s to prevent you from getting up in court later and swearing you found them there?”
Shayne stood up and threw his cigarette butt on the floor. “To hell with this. You’ve got a chance to buy a third interest in a million-dollar mine for two lousy G’s. You haven’t brains enough to realize I’d be in no position to testify later about evidence which I’d have to admit I destroyed.” He slid the tobacco can in his pocket and started out.
Cal Strenk leaped up with remarkable agility and caught his coat sleeve. “Don’t go. Say something, Jasper. He’s right. If he burns the stuff now he won’t have a leg to stand on later.”