It was a large sum. Bostwick scratched the corner of his mouth.
"That would be twenty-five thousand apiece."
"No," corrected McCoppet, "twenty thousand for me and thirty for you, for equal shares. I've got to do the work underground."
"Perhaps I could handle what's his name, Culver, myself," objected Bostwick. "The fact that I'm a stranger here——"
"And what will you do if he refuses?" interrupted the gambler. "Will you still have an ace in your kahki?"
Bostwick stared.
"If he should refuse, and tell the owners——"
"Right. Can you handle it then?"
Bostwick answered: "Can you?"
"It's my business to get back what I've lost—and a little bit more. You leave it to me. Keep away from Culver, and bring me thirty thousand in the morning."