It served him right. He was a robber, a thief, and he didn't
care what became of him. If Lopez took him out and had him shot at once he
wouldn't have felt a qualm.
The bandit weighed what Smith had said; then he spoke directly to Hardy.
"Zis is so? Zis is true?"
"No." The monosyllable was more emphatic than any long explanation could
have been. A scowl on his brow, Hardy came close to Lopez, fearlessly. "I
came to foreclose a mortgage I hold on this place. That is all."
But Uncle Henry was not going to see him get away with that. "Tell him why
you want this ranch so bad!" he yelled. "I dare you!"
Pell now stepped forward. Their predicament was bad enough as it was,
without having this old imbecile make it worse. "Keep still, you fool! Do
you want to get us into more trouble?"
"I certainly do," cried Uncle Henry, "an', gol darn it, I'm a-goin' to! Rob
me of ten thousand dollars, will you?"
Lopez was listening with both ears; and a glint came into his eyes, "Zat is
true?" he inquired, interested anew. "He has rob you of ten sousand
dollars? Eh--heh--a good beeg sum!"
"Ask him!" Uncle Henry said. "An' I only hope to thunder he tells a lie!"
His voice went up on a high key.
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