“There is a hammock in this house, Death Face told me, so I will swing it on the porch for you.”
The hammock was found, swung, and then the outlaw said:
“I have brought you pen, ink, and paper, Miss Fallon, and I wish you to write a letter to your father.
“Tell him how you are treated by me, but make known that he must pay the sum of twenty thousand dollars for your ransom. The letter will be mailed to him at Pioneer City, and he shall send his answer by Jack Jessop, who will be met by a man whom I will instruct to be on hand. Your father must state in his letter if he will pay that ransom on the next run of the coach, and send it by Jack Jessop to be given to my representative. If my man is harmed, then I will not answer for your safety.
“But, if he promises to send the money by Jessop, when he is ready to pay it, then you will be returned to him in safety, being given into Jack Jessop’s charge the third run of the coach after your father writes agreeing to my terms. Do you understand, Miss Fallon?”
“Perfectly.”
“I will write also, and you shall see my letter. Then I will see that the letters are mailed without delay in Pioneer City.”
“It can be done none too soon to please me.”
“So I thought.”
“One minute, please?”