“Then I’ll be up and off before sunrise; back again before your breakfast-bell rings. I’ll try it to-morrow mornin’.”
“I wouldn’t if I was you,” repeated Strong; “you haven’t got the strength for it; besides,” drawing closer to the old man and speaking in an undertone, “there’s been two suspicious-looking fellows hanging round the town for the last day or two, and who knows but they may belong to the gang that robbed and tried to murder you? They may be watching an opportunity to finish up the job.”
“Nonsense! I won’t have a cent about me, and, of course, it was the money they was after then. Besides, the rascal that did the job is fast locked up in jail now.”
“Yes; but they may be wantin’ to put you out o’ the way, so’s you can’t give evidence against him on the trial. I wouldn’t trust ’em.”
“I’m not afeard,” sneered the old man; “I never gave nobody no reason to call me a coward, and I don’t mean to, neither.”
“Common-sense prudence is not cowardice,” returned the landlord; “in your weak state you’d stand no chance against one strong man, let alone two.”
“It’s all guesswork that those fellers belong to the gang and are after me, and I don’t believe a word of it,” said Himes, testily.
Strong was beginning a fresh expostulation when his wife interposed, “Oh, let him alone, John, do! If he’s a mind to throw away his life, why need you worry yourself to prevent him?”
“Well, now, that’s not it,” said Himes; “I’ve no mind to throw away my life; not till I’ve seen Phelim O’Rourke brought to justice, anyhow; so I’ll maybe put off goin’ out o’ town for a while; I’m gittin’ stronger every day.” With that he knocked the ashes from his pipe, put it in his pocket, and with a gruff, “Good-night to ye, folks,” started off for his bedroom.
The old man had a good deal of obstinacy and tenacity of purpose in his composition, and waking early the next morning, he resolved to carry out his plan at once; for why should he care what Strong and his wife thought about it? he had as much sense as either of them, or both together, for that matter.