"No, I ain't; and that's what makes me so mad. We-uns about here can't do nothing with that money---- Say! mebbe I could tell you something else if you'll promise never to let on about it." "All right. I never will," answered Allison, who was becoming impatient to hear all the man had on his mind. Nashville was in plain sight now, and of course there could be no more talking of this sort done after they got there. "Hold up a bit. Don't let your horse walk so fast." "What I thought of saying to you is this," said Beardsley, once more sinking his voice to a whisper. "We-uns who live about here can't do nothing by ourselves, but we can hint--just hint, I say--to some outsiders that there's a pile of money in that there house of Mrs. Gray's that's to be had for the taking." "Go on," said Tom, when Beardsley stopped and looked at him. "I am listening, but I don't catch your meaning." "I could easy find half a dozen fellers right around here who would be up and doing mighty sudden if I should say that much in their private ears," continued the captain. "But mebbe that plan wouldn't work. I can't tell till I hear what Shelby thinks about it. But if it don't work, we might put the Richmond officers onto them." "What good would that do? If there is money in Mrs. Gray's house the Richmond authorities have no right to touch it." "Aint they, now!" chuckled Beardsley. "Don't the law say that we-uns mustn't pay no debts to the Yankees, but must turn the money over to the fellers at Richmond?" "But I am afraid Mrs. Gray doesn't owe any money to the Yankees." "What's the odds whether you think so or not?" said the captain earnestly. "We can hint that she does, can't we? And can't we hint furder, that instead of turning that money over, like the law says she must do, she is keeping it hid for her own use!" "Then why not make a sure thing of it by putting the government officers on the scent the first thing?" "Because they won't divide, the officers won't. Don't you see? The other fellers will." Tom Allison was astonished now, and no mistake. For a minute or two he looked hard at Beardsley, but he couldn't speak. "What do you stare at me that-a-way for?" demanded the captain. "I don't see nothing so very amazing in what I said. Didn't you tell me a minute ago that you would like mighty well to have the handling of some of that there money?" "Of course I did, and I say so yet; but I wouldn't dare touch it if it was got in that way. Don't misunderstand me now," said Allison, when he saw Beardsley gather up his reins and change his riding-whip to his right hand as if he were about to go on and leave Tom behind. "If you think it would be quite safe----"