“Yeah, an’ I didn’t want no spooks creepin’ in on me,” Nickie added. “Live ones, I ain’t afraid of....”
“Nonsense! The best thing you boys can do is to go to bed and forget it. I’m a little tired myself.” After a pause, he added: “I’m taking you boys, somewhere in the morning so wake up early. Goodnight!”
Skippy couldn’t get the door closed quickly enough. He threw himself on the bed exhausted. “Am I glad that’s over!”
“Same here, kid,” Nickie agreed in a faint voice. “Our little date with him tomorra ain’t worryin’ me like what Frost’s gonna say bout that lock when he gets back.”
“Keep your shirt on. From what Devlin’s looked an’ from what he ain’t said about Frost, makes me think there’ll be plenty trouble between them so the lock won’t look big. Anyway, we can deny it, can’t we? Frost’s double-crossed Devlin a little, I think, so will Devlin believe all he says again, huh? Our word’s as good as Frost’s.”
“Kid, I’m a dumb-bell again, ain’t I? While you’re makin’ the old bean work I’m worryin’ bout Devlin’s mitts.” Suddenly he lowered his voice still more and whispered close to Skippy’s ear, “What’s the idea sayin’ we didn’ hear nothin’ that Timmy said?”
“We gotta outsmart him! While he thinks we ain’t on to nothin’, he won’t be so foxy. Take it from me, Nickie, if we tell him nothin’ we got a chance—not unless.”
“What a guy!”
“If he thought we thought there was really sump’n phoney bout him an’ Timmy tonight, we couldn’t breathe no more without him knowin’ it. He’s gonna be foxy anyhow, but he’d be worse if he knew what we was thinkin’ an’ I betcha I’m right.”
“You didn’t fall for that about him seein’ Timmy off on that train for Montana, hah?”