"Both!" said Bennett.
He stood until he saw that the significance of this had soaked in; then he drew out a chair and sat down. Ned McGowan chuckled hoarsely.
"Pretty slick!" said he. "Wonder some of us didn't think of that! I suppose they went around and scared the purchasers until they got them, pretty cheap. Trust old Neil to drive a bargain!"
But Palmer, the banker, who had been thinking, here spoke up:
"The purchasers were undoubtedly their agents," he surmised quietly.
"By God, you're right!" cried Terry. "Old Malcolm is certainly the devil without a tail!"
"Speak of him and you get him," remarked Colonel Baker, pointing out
Neil, who had just entered.
They raised a shout at him, until finally the old man, reluctantly and crabbedly, sidled over to join them.
"You're discovered, old fox!" cried Terry; "and the outraged dignity of the law demands a drink."
They plied him with half-facetious, half-envious congratulations. But
Neil would have none of them.