At this stroke of humor the two individuals mentioned broke into a harsh laugh. In fact, they appeared to think it the best joke in the world. As for Jack, in his bitter chagrin, he said nothing. If only they had taken out the money the last thing before they left town, he thought. But then he recalled, as a partial palliation of his bitter feelings, that the bank had closed long before they could, by any possibility, have concluded the marketing for their voyage.
He felt Blinky and his companion draw off his shoes and rifle them of his money.
“Now the other,” ordered Duke.
“All right, boss, but I guess he’ll give less trouble than this kid,” growled Blinky.
“You mean that you hit him pretty hard?”
“Well, so hard that he wasn’t saying nothing when I left him,” was the brutal reply.
Jack’s flesh crept. Could they mean that Tom, bravely defending himself, had been badly hurt by this ruffian? But the next minute he experienced at least some partial measure of relief.
“Don’t be scared, boss,” (Duke’s face must have looked anxious in the yellow lantern light), “it was just a love tap; but young whippersnappers like him ain’t used to such.”
“Well, get the money and then bring it here,” ordered Duke.
As he spoke, Jack caught the sound of the rustle of bills. Evidently then the money had been transferred to Duke for division with his satellites later. The footsteps of Blinky and Duggan could be heard trampling off in the brush.