intended to be picked up, either."
"No doubt a part of the gang," said Brice, with increased bitterness; "I
see it all now."
"No!" said Bill decisively, "that ain't Snapshot Harry's style; he's a
clean fighter, with no underhand tricks. And I don't believe he threw
down that tree, either. Look yer, sonny!" he added, suddenly laying his
hand on Brice's shoulder, "a hundred to one that that was the work of
a couple o' d----d sneaks or traitors in that gang who kem along as
passengers. I never took any stock in that coyote who paid extra for his
box-seat."
Brice knew that Bill never looked kindly on any passenger who, by
bribing the ticket agent, secured this favorite seat, which Bill felt
was due to his personal friends and was in his own selection. He only
returned gloomily:--
"I don't see what difference it makes to us which robber got the money.
"Ye don't," said Bill, raising his head, with a sudden twinkle in his
eyes. "Then ye don't know Snapshot Harry. Do ye suppose he's goin' to
sit down and twiddle his thumbs with that skin game played on him? No,
sir," he continued, with a thoughtful deliberation, drawing his fingers
slowly through his long beard, "he spotted it--and smelt out the whole
trick ez soon ez he opened that box, and that's why he didn't foller us!
He'll hunt those sneak thieves into h-ll but what he'll get 'em, and,"
he went on still more slowly, "by the livin' hokey! I reckon, sonny,
that's jest how ye'll get your chance to chip in!"
"I don't understand," said Brice impatiently.
"Well," said Bill, with more provoking slowness, as if he were communing
with himself rather than Brice, "Harry's mighty proud and high toned,
and to be given away like this has cut down into his heart, you bet. It
ain't the money he's thinkin' of; it's this split in the gang--the loss
of his power ez boss, ye see--and ef he could get hold o' them chaps
he'd let the money slide ez long ez they didn't get it. So you've got a
detective on your side that's worth the whole police force of Californy!
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