Barney Hawks' first words, however, seemed a little foreign to the subject.
"Hand me that flask again, Jake," he said, in a tone of authority. "I must wet my whistle before I begin."
Jake took out the flask and passed it across the table without a word.
Barney took a liberal drink, and handing it back, said:
"Take a drop yourself, Jake, you may feel the need of it before I am through."
"So 'elp me gracious," muttered Jake, as he glanced at the flask: "it vos only a drop I could dake any how; dot vos all you hafe left me."
Barney seemed not to hear him, but hastened to say:
"You know the little trick we played down the road didn't work?"
"You mean putting der young station agent's pody on der track?"
"Yes; we hoped it would be supposed he had committed suicide, but as I say, our little game didn't work."