The money followed, a good deal of it, and Aaron made a gesture of emptiness.
“That all?”
“Yes, indeed, young man.”
“Then I want the rest of it.”
“You’ve got the rest. You’ve got the whole. The game ain’t what it used to be, and I have partners; they—”
“I’ll partner you. Get down. Get down quick.”
Evidently a compromise was the very most a poor shell-game man in this hapless crisis could hope for. Aaron got down and addressed the road-agent.
“See here, beau,” he began, “you and me oughtn’t to be hostile. In our trade we can’t afford it. You and me’s brothers.”
“Don’t you call me brother. I don’t lie. I say ‘hand it over’ and folks ain’t deceived. I’m an outlaw and, maybe, my life is forfeit. But you pretend you’re an honest man and that your dirty game is square. Throw it all down, or I’ll tear it out of you.”