“It would be worth a lot to have him behind the bars,” said Merrick seriously.
“Or under the sod,” added Layton.
“Let’s boost it another thousand,” suggested Merrick. “It won’t hurt to make it worth while.”
McLaren turned to Layton.
“What do ye say, Ross?”
“Oh, it’s all right with me,” said the little man, hooking his thumbs inside the armholes of his fancy vest. “Seems to me it’s like making conversational bets—they’re never won or lost. Personally, I’d like to see more action and less interest in what the man’s scalp is worth.”
“Ye hit it, Ross,” laughed McLaren.
“Well,” said Kelsey savagely, “in this country you’ve just about got to buy a man like Joe Rich.”
“Ye mean to make it worth while for somebody to forget friendship, Kelsey?”
“That’s just what I mean, McLaren!”