The flues from the two fireplaces joined at a point a little way above Wild Bill’s head. The sound of voices, coming through the fireplace in the living room, ascended the flue and echoed down to the listener’s ear. The sound was amplified, in its passage, as though it had come through a whispering gallery.
“I want to buy some stuff, Isaacs,” came the voice of Lige Benner. “What have you got in that old grip?”
“I haf got vatches, der finest dot efer vas brought into Texas, mein friendt,” were the words of Isaacs. “Und I haf brecious shtones like you nefer see pefore—rings, und sooch like. Vat it iss you vant, mein friendt? Nodding is too goot for you rich cattle barons—und so I pring nodding but der best to der cattle country. Vat iss it you vant?”
“I spoiled that five-hundred-dollar watch I bought of you a month ago, and I’d like another.”
“I schust sold Hank Phelps a fine vatch—ach, so fine!—for six hundret tollar. He had chewels all ofer him, yes. Dot vatch vas der piggest bargain yet. I lose money on him—so much as fifty tollar. Hank Phelps told me dot he spoil a vatch, too.”
“I want a better watch than Phelps bought,” said Benner.
“Ach, so! Vone baron geds someding, den der odder baron vants someding better. Here iss der king of all vatches, der best vatch in Texas. I gif you der vatch for one t’ousant tollar, und I lose one hundret tollar on him by wholesale. But you vas my friendt, Benner, und I vould do a lot for you, yes.”
Wild Bill, uncomfortably situated in the fireplace, was disappointed. He thought he was going to overhear something bearing on Perry and the plot Benner was said to be hatching against the Star-A rancher. But it seemed that Benner had merely summoned Abraham Isaacs to the ranch to buy some jewelry.
Those flush days in Texas had started the cattlemen to spending their money right and left. Wealth was lavished on watches and diamonds, and a class of peddlers had sprung into existence, the like of which had never been known before—and has never been known since.
Hebrews traveled the length and breadth of the cattle country, carrying satchels filled with diamonds and watches. It is said that the value of the contents of these old satchels sometimes amounted to as much as two hundred thousand dollars! And, what is still more remarkable, the peddlers were never molested while riding across the lonely plains.