Rathburn closed the door softly and turned the key in the lock.
“I’m just taking natural precautions,” he explained.
Sautee shook his head and put a finger to his lips. “Not so loud,” he warned. “These walls”––he waved a hand about––“are all ears.”
He took a package from beneath his coat and handed it to Rathburn. “Put it in your shirt,” he instructed. “Deliver it to the office at the mine and take the bookkeeper’s receipt. Then report to my office here in town. I wish you luck, and I want you to know that I have the utmost confidence in you.”
“You keep such large sums on hand all the time?” Rathburn asked, putting the package in his shirt. He was mindful of the fact that a similar sum had been stolen the day before from the truck driver.
“There’s a private bank here,” answered Sautee frowningly. “He let me have it, but he’s already sent to the county seat for more cash which will come by auto express to-morrow, probably. Anyway, the bank’ll get most of this back, so their cash won’t be short long.”
Rathburn nodded. “Let’s see,” he suggested. “There was a little item of five hundred between us for my serving––am I right?”
“There is such an item,” snapped out Sautee; “when you’ve delivered.”
“Of course,” replied Rathburn. “I couldn’t expect to be paid in advance. I’m to deliver the money at the mine and report to you for the five hundred.”