And when the man left the room, the two sat down by the table upon which burned the candle; the eyes of both were turned in the direction of the room above, and both shook with silent laughter that was not pleasant to see.
CHAPTER XIII
SHOWS THE BARGAIN THAT WAS STRUCK BY
TOBIAS HAWKINS AND HIS FRIEND
As Ben Cooper and Paddy Burk looked down through the crevice in the floor, the two men drew together across the table and began to speak in tones so low that the boys were unable to hear their words.
“Faith, they look like grinning imps, so they do,” commented the Irish lad in a whisper. “Sorra another pair like them did I ever see.”
For some little time did the two continue to speak; then the landlord’s entrance interrupted them.
“Now, gentlemen, I am at your bidding in any way that I can serve you,” said he.
Tobias Hawkins regarded him fixedly for a short time, then he spoke.
“You have not a very large place here.”
“We would have a larger if we could,” said the man, surlily.
“But sometimes small places are very well patronized,” and Hawkins looked about the dingy public room, plainly disbelieving that such was the case here.