It was all Greek to the Kid. Why did this man want him to follow? The
Kid shrugged his shoulders, shifted his gun a trifle and followed Bush.
He believed that he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself, and
his curiosity had been aroused.
The Kid looked back at his horse and deliberated whether he would lead
it across the street to a more convenient hitch-rack. He usually kept
his rolling-stock as handy as possible; because the Piegan Kid had, in
the past, found it necessary to leave town very suddenly.
He finally decided to take a chance. Bush had left the door partly
open, and the Kid peered inside before coming in. It seemed to be an
ordinary assay office; so he went in. There was no sign of Bush
Cleveland; but Solomon Kane was peering over the top of an ancient
roll-top desk, sizing up the Kid.
“What could I do for you?” asked Solomon, a slight quaver in his voice.
The Kid lounged against the short counter and sized up the room. He did
not speak. Solomon got to his feet, peered cautiously out of the dusty
window and crooked a cucumber-like forefinger at the Kid.
“Come in here to talk.”
He opened a door and stood aside for the Kid to go in past him. The
Kid was too wise for any such a move. He shook his head and squinted
at Solomon. No stranger would follow him into a strange place--not if
he knew it. Solomon grinned in appreciation of the Kid’s caution and
went in first.
Bush was inside, sitting on a broken-backed chair. Solomon waved the Kid
to a stool; but the Kid shook his head and leaned back against the door.
“Don’t take no chances, eh?” grinned Solomon nervously.
The Kid grinned. Solomon shoved his hands deep into his pants pockets
and shifted his feet. Then he said--
“Mebbe we do business, eh?”
The Kid wrinkled his nose. He did not like the smell of acids, which
filled the room. Solomon cleared his throat.
“I make you a deal for one thousand dollars. What you say? Cash on the
spot.”
The Kid’s eyes wandered around the room. No, this man must be speaking
to him. Solomon watched him closely. One thousand dollars cash did not
seem to excite the Kid greatly. Solomon swore to himself that this man
must be another Captain Kidd.
“You ain’t talkin’ to me, are yuh?” asked the Kid seriously. Solomon
knew he had shot too low. He must part with more money.
“It ain’t worth more,” he whined, “but to you I make it two thousand.
That is my top. You say yes?”
The Kid shook his head. He had been unable to read the sign on the door.
Perhaps he had got into a lunatic asylum. Solomon misconstrued the Kid’s
negative. Two thousand was clearly not enough. Solomon looked to Bush
for a sign--and got it. Bush spread four fingers across his knee. Four
thousand!
Solomon’s throat contracted sharply. He wondered if he would be able to
make the offer without suffering a complete breakdown. The Kid had not
moved nor changed expression. As Solomon looked at him the Piegan Kid’s
right hand eased slowly nearer to the butt of his gun. Solomon caved.
“I--I make it four thousand.”
It was a supreme effort. The Kid sniffed again. The acid odors tickled
his nose and he sneezed sharply. Solomon nearly fainted. It was like an
explosion. Bush tore a tobacco-filled cigaret paper square in two and
dropped his package of tobacco to the floor. The Kid rubbed his tingling
nose.
“You--you take my offer?” quavered Solomon.
The Kid looked queerly at him and shook his head.
“I am not a millionaire!” wailed Solomon. “How much you want, anyway?”
“Lemme do this,” interrupted Bush. “You ain’t got no sense in this kinda
thing.”
He turned to the Kid.
“Pardner, will you take five thousand dollars and keep yore mouth shut?”
The Kid’s mouth opened, as if he were about to speak, but no words came.
He glanced around the place and back at Bush.
“Yeah. I don’t mind,” very little above a whisper.
Bush turned triumphantly to Solomon.
“That’s the way to do business, Sol.”
“My ----!” breathed Sol. “Anybody should do business with five thousand
dollars! That ain’t business--that’s craziness!”
“Aw, give it to him!” Bush grew in his own importance. “Yuh can’t be a
piker in a deal like this.”