"The man I work for is worth a million," Farland said. "Help me escape, and I'll give you five hundred dollars."
"Got it with you?"
"The biggest part of it," Farland replied.
He told the truth, too, for he always carried plenty of money while working on a case.
"Suppose I simply take it away from you," the guard said.
"In the first place, I don't think you are that kind of a man. And you want to get square with the man who called you a dog, don't you?"
"What's your scheme?"
"Simply let me go, right now. It is dusk outside already. Tell me how to get to town the quickest way. I'll give you almost all I have on me; I'll need a little to use to get back to the city. To-morrow I'll meet you some place and give you the rest. In addition I'll give you a chance to get out without being arrested for your part in abducting me and holding me here."
The man spent a few minutes in thought.
"I'll fix you so you can slip your bonds," he said, "and I'll hand your automatic back to you. It is there in the cupboard. But I don't want you to make a get-away while I'm guarding you—see? I don't exactly love the man who'll guard you next. I'll fix it so you can handle him. Wait for five minutes after he comes and I have gone. I will be away for an hour or so, and the escape can happen while I'm not here."