"It is a fine idea!" Welland was quick to press the opening. "Why, it'll be a cinch for you. And you'll get real pickings. A thousand times what you can make by robbery here and not a tenth the risk. Sooner or later, you'll get yours if you stick at this game, whereas if you do what I suggest you'll be able to drop it and live like a king."
"That's so," the gangster agreed. "Now—we might as well talk the thing out, while we're at it—s'pose this thing falls through, in the end. What do I get for my trouble?"
Welland smiled, as though expecting the question.
"There's always that possibility. And, naturally, it wouldn't be fair to you to have a lot of work wasted. Remember my mentioning that I'd some good claims on Discovery? Well, I'll guarantee delivery to you of so much in dust and nuggets every month till the show's ready. That'll pay you for your trouble, won't it? I can do it on the Q.T. and no one the wiser."
"Now you're sayin' something!" declared the gunman. "Wait, now. S'pose I agrees—and me an' my gang works this thing up and pulls it off. Where do you come in? What makes a man like you play with fire like this?"
"I told you, I want to see justice done. Isn't that good enough?"
"No, it ain't."
"Well, it's true."
"Say, come off. This thing's got to be on the square between you an' me or it won't go at all. What's the game?"
"That's true, I tell you," Welland persisted. "Of course, I'd expect my share of the pickings. Isn't that good enough?"