“Yah!” said Ducky, grinning. “A pish and three long tushes! You big stiff! I thought you were going to tell me money, money, who’s got the money? and where Uncle Roger plucked it in the first place. Little Ducky, he sticks to his first guess--mines--and counterfeiting, for place.” “Where he got it? Where---- My poor, poor boy!” said Neighbor. “My poor misguided lamb, I wasn’t studying on who’s got your uncle’s money; I was figuring on a harder thing--and that’s how you and me are going to get it. I know where your uncle’s money is. I know it was really cash money, too, and not property. And I know how he got it!” Ducky stared. “Business of gasp!” he said. “Demonstrate! Produce!” “Wait a minute!” said Neighbor, holding up a warning hand. “How do you bate your breath? If you know, do it!” “She’s bated. Break it to me!” “I’ll tell you first and give you the reasons afterward; it makes the reasons sound so much more reasonable, that way.” “‘You may fire when ready, Gridley!’” “Hist!” said Neighbor, weird, shaky and spook-eyed. “Listen to the evil old man of Haunted Hill! Your uncle was the Man Higher Up! He made his money backing gambling hells! U-r-r-r-r-h! The men who have now got that money-money are Beck, Baca, Scanlon, Quinliven and Bennett! And the men who are now going to get that money-money--open another bottle, Ducky--are Roger Olcott Drake, Second--Present!--and Neighbor Jones--Present! But how? How? How?” Chapter V Roger Drake caught his breath. “Sir, do you inhale it or do you use a needle? Can you prove any of that?” “Prove it!” returned Neighbor indignantly. “I don’t have to prove it--I know it. It’s just gemimini-mentally got to be that way. There ain’t no proofs--the kind to convince a jury of peers; but there’s no other way to account for what’s happened, and, if you’re not a natural-born peer, I can show you.” “Among the many beauties that add luster to my character are an aptitude to be shown and a simple willingness to try anything--once. Go to it, old summit! Wise me up!” “Ver-ree well! Let us examine the simple and jolly facts--well-known, but not to you. Tavy Baca is abso-lute-ly the Big Noise in Saragossa County--accent on loot. Nominations and appointments f. o. b. for cash with order. Special terms for convictions and acquittals. Try our land-office decisions. Small graft of all kinds. Corpses to order in neat hardwood boxes. Very Roycrofty. See us before trying elsewhere. “Laying all juries aside, he’s a smart lawyer--Baca. He might be immensely wealthy, but every Mexican within a radius, when he’s sick, lazy or in trouble, makes a beeline for Baca and comes away with a jingle in his pocket. It’s like packin’ water in a sieve. “Gambling, as perhaps you know, is completely stamped out in New Mexico since she joined the glorious sisterhood. Baca would be getting a juicy rake-off from Beck’s game. Or, since Baca was your uncle’s lawyer, uncle made the necessary arrangements himself, likely.”