Garland’s dark face had, upon learning the name of Waldmere’s companion that morning, taken on a look of more serious concern. It vanished almost instantly, however, and his teeth met with a vicious snap, smacking defiance, which evidently impelled Nolan to venture offering his further assistance.
Garland received the suggestion with a darker frown, however, and quickly shook his head.
“There isn’t any game, my man,” he said, quite sternly. “You put that idea out of your head, and keep it out. You were not employed for this work because of any game, but because we had no one else whom we could send conveniently at that time.”
“Beg pardon, boss,” Nolan quickly responded. “I’m wise, all right, now that you’ve put me next. It was the two coveys, Carter and the other gink, whom you think were playing some kind of a game.”
“That’s just the size of it,” Garland hastened to assure him.
“I’m wise, all right, boss, now that you’ve told me.”
“Both men were strangers to me,” Garland added, in an explanatory way. “We suspected them of trickery and wanted to learn who they were, or more particularly the one you say is Nick Carter.”
“You can bank on that, boss.”
“It’s all right, then, no doubt, for Nick Carter would not have engaged in any crooked work,” Garland proceeded. “He must have had some other object in view. I shall probably be informed sooner or later. What do I owe you for your services?”
“That’s up to you, boss,” said Nolan, apparently content to drop the matter and accept what was offered, as well as the explanation just made.