"I played spook and scared him out. He's on the way to Madison, and is hitting only the high places. Is this the old Sprite you used in 'Frisco Bay?"
"Yes."
"Glad to know it. She'll go up in smoke before we're done with her."
Ross' veiled hints of what he was going to do did not bother Matt very much. He had a hearty contempt for a boaster—even a desperate boaster of Ross' stamp.
The scoundrel was in a communicative mood, and many points which had been dark to Matt were being cleared away.
"What has Big John done," Matt asked, "to get Mr. Lorry down on me?"
Ross laughed huskily.
"How do I know?" he answered. "Big John is about as sly as they make 'em. I didn't know he'd done anything to get Lorry down on you—didn't think he'd have the nerve to go near Lorry. You got away from that pal of ours?"
"Yes."
"Then I wish John was here with us. He's probably as mad as a hornet over losing that money, and would make a better stand-by than Kinky."