Lopez faced Hardy, across the table. "Senor Loan Fish," he said, "if my
frand, 'e pay you ze money, zen ze rancho belong to him?"
"If he pays me before eight o'clock," the other replied promptly.
"Senor Wall Street," the bandit now addressed Pell, "you 'ave ten sousand
dollar. I want it."
Pell was amazed. "But I--"
Lopez snapped his fingers. Pedro, who came back at that very moment, took
the money from Pell, and watched his master closely for further
instructions as to what to do. Lopez nodded toward Smith.
"For 'im," he said.
"For me?" cried Uncle Henry, joyfully.
"I must make my frand 'appy," the bandit said. Pedro gave the money to
Uncle Henry. The latter grabbed it as a child might have grabbed a cooky.
Lopez turned to Pell. "Now--you is rob." To Hardy he said: "You is paid,"
and to Uncle Henry, "An' you get your money back. _Bueno!_ Ees finish."
Pell was cynical. "I'll say that's service," he murmured; and a sardonic
grin came to his thin lips. Perhaps the bandit was joking, after all. But
damn these jokes that kept one in long after school!
Uncle Henry, however, had a strange apprehension, and wheeled about, facing
Lopez.
"You ain't goin' to take it back from me, are you?" he inquired.
Pages:
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189