"Here I been
settin' around waitin' for this place for five years! You can't come here
an' take it away from me like this! No, sir, I won't have it!"
"Look here," Gilbert stepped in and said. "You're getting your money! What
are you boiling about?"
"Red" had been listening attentively. He came close to Gilbert now, and
said, "He wants the place. Didn't he just say so?"
"The place?" Gilbert repeated. "What the devil does he want the place for?"
Pell was growing impatient. There was too much quibbling. "We're losing
time. Come on, let's get things settled."
Jones, however, was not to be hurried. "But I want to know why he wants
this place so much." His suspicions were thoroughly aroused.
No one had observed Uncle Henry, who had silently wheeled his chair about
until he got to the table, where Pell had left his satchel long ago. Like a
curious old woman he now picked it up, brazenly opened it, and exclaimed:
"Hey! What the Sam Hill!" and backed away; but not until he had dipped his
hands into the bag.
"What's the matter?" Gilbert asked, turning.
"It's full o' dirt! Just dirt!" Uncle Henry cried, and glanced about to see
the effect of his surprising information.
Pages:
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113