"Out of the man's own money?" asked Kirby laughing.
"No, I didn't venture to use one of the fifty dollars. I used other money which I had."
"Then you have the money by you still?"
"Yes."
Squire Bates rose from his seat, locked the door, and then opening a small cabinet drew out a roll of bills—which he counted before his visitor.
"See," he said, "Here are twenty bills, amounting in all to a thousand dollars."
Peter Kirby's eyes brightened covetously as he eyed this large sum of money.
"It was a good haul for one man to make, in a quiet place like this," he said.
"So I flatter myself," said Squire Bates complacently.
"But I can't help expressing my surprise at your burying yourself in such a small, out of the way place. If you were in one of our large cities, for instance, it would be much more convenient, and the rest of the band could communicate with you better."