“Empty, boss?” queried one of the men.
“Yes,” answered Starlick.
“Mighty heavy for an empty desk.”
“It’s an old-fashioned roll-top, and that’s the reason.”
“I guess the riggin’ll hold it, all right, but I didn’t figger on havin’ quite so much heft.”
“Better be sure, my man. I wouldn’t want the desk smashed.”
“I’ll risk it. If it’s smashed, it comes out o’ my pay.”
There were other things that couldn’t come out of the man’s pay, if the rigging let go, and Patsy was as near in a flutter as his nerve ever allowed him to be.
A hawser was put around the desk both ways.
Then Patsy heard a hook made fast.