“Oh, your daughter! Where’s Cody and Lillie?”
“I hesertates ter say, not knowin’.”
“They were with you a few moments ago. I reckon they’ve gone on toward the pass. Well, we’ll bag ’em there.”
“They ain’t sech fools as me,” said Nomad bitterly. “When I git through with this trail, I’m goin’ ter quit, and retire ter some quiet home fer men thet has lost their senses. If I’d had mine, you wouldn’t ketched me like this. But it’s all right; I’m old, and ain’t got too many years in this world, and you can’t skeer me. But I does ax yer to be easy wi’ ther gal.”
“Search her,” said Black John, to one of his men.
The masked bandit came forward.
“You’ve got some em’rulds,” said this rascal. “Fork ’em over, and save yerself trouble.”
“But I haven’t them!” she protested.
“Fork ’em over!” he shouted.
“I haven’t them. We left them behind; but where, I refuse to tell you.”