“I don’d soak nopody, mein friendt, nefer. I sell so close to der cost dot I vill be ruined if I don’t raise der prices vone of dose days.” Lige Benner laughed at this. “Remember this, Abe,” went on Jerry: “You will be as deep in the plot as anybody, and if you say a word about the scheme you will get yourself into trouble, but----” “Ach, Himmel!” “But if you keep still, Abe, nobody will be the wiser, and nothing will happen to you or to us. Understand, Abe?” “Yah, you bet you I geep so still as a clam. I don’t speak nodding at all to anybody.” “You’ll have to go right back to Hackamore, Abe, so as to be sure Dunbar doesn’t get away from town before he buys the diamond ring of you.” “Vat tifference does it make, Cherry, vedder he puys from me?” “Why, Abe, if you have dealings with him it will make it look more reasonable when you accuse him of stealing from you. Can’t you see that?” “Vat a fine headt for sooch dings you haf, mein friendt! Yah, I see dot. I vill make it look so reasonaple as I can. Gif me der fife hundret tollars und I vill go pack by der town.” Wild Bill could hear some one moving about the room. After that there was a jingling of gold. “How I like der fine yellow goldt!” came the greedy, gloating voice of Isaacs. “See how dot shines! Vat a rich mans you was, Misder Benner!” “Never mind that,” said Benner dryly. “Count the stuff and then hike for Hackamore. See that this game is played right, Isaacs, or you’ll never sell any more stuff on the Brazos.” “I do der best vat I can, chentlemen; und I am to get der resdt of der gold ven I get droo?” “You are,” said Benner. “In the meantime, you have the plunder and part of the purchase price. That gives you the long end of the deal.” There was a little more talk, and then Abraham Isaacs, having identified himself with as villainous a scheme as was ever hatched, took his leave. Wild Bill, frowning blackly, got out of the fireplace and into the room. Stepping to the window he looked cautiously out. Red Steve was still leaning against the wall of the building, and apparently had not moved since Wild Bill had looked at him last. The Laramie man went over and seated himself in a chair. “The fiends!” he muttered, anger mounting high in his breast. “So that’s to be Lige Benner’s vengeance on Nate Dunbar, is it? He’ll take away the lad’s good name, get him sent to prison, and cover Mrs. Dunbar and Dick Perry with disgrace! They’d never stay in the cattle country after such a game as that! Lucky I came here! By gorry, this might have been pushed through to a success if I hadn’t got next to it. I reckon I’ve learned enough. My next move is to get away and let Pard Cody know how I’ve developed this pay streak. A quick move will save Perry and Dunbar. A----” The bolt on the other side of the door was shoved back and the door pushed open. “Come out here, Gringo,” said Jerry Benner, showing his thin, wizened face; “come out here and we’ll tell you what you are to do.”