“Ye want ter know a heap,” answered Tex, after a brief period of reflection. “What good is it goin’ ter do me ter tell ye all that?”
“That depends on whether you tell the truth or not.”
“Git down ter brass tacks,” said Tex. “Jest what d’ye mean by sayin’ that?”
“I mean that if you will answer my questions truthfully, just as soon as Lawless is down and out, I’ll set you at liberty—providing you’ll agree to leave the country.”
“I don’t reckon thar’s anythin’ ter be gained by buckin’ you further than what I hev,” mused Tex. “I’ve had plenty of it lately, an’ it ain’t never amounted ter nothin’, ’cept ter git us fellers deeper an’ deeper in the hole. I begun as an honest miner, over thar in Sun Dance Cañon, but Coomby talked me over ter helpin’ Lawless, sayin’ as how we’d all git a slice o’ the Forty Thieves if we hung on. Now the mine has been deeded ter Wah-coo-tah Lawless, an’ us fellers won’t git none o’ it onless Wah-coo-tah Lawless makes out a deed ter Cap’n Lawless, an’ ther deed is left at ther black rock at Medicine Bluff ter-night. Is that deed goin’ ter be left?”
“Not that anybody knows of,” said the scout.
“Thet’s what I told Lawless; but when he gits the bit in his teeth, thar ain’t no doin’ anythin’ with him.”
“I have just begun my clean-up,” said the scout, “and Lawless and his men will be down and out before I’m through. You’re down and out now, Tex, and this is the beginning. You can save yourself, however, if you want to answer my questions. We shall wipe out the gang with or without your information, but you may be able to tell us something that will make the job a trifle easier. What’s the word?”
“How do I know ye’ll turn me loose if I tell ye what I know?”
“You have my word,” said the scout shortly. “If that isn’t good enough for you, we’ll stop negotiations right here, and I’ll send you over to Sill.”