The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-02-08
CHAPTER TX.

Nathaniel Letton was talking when
the door opened; he ceased, and with
his two companions gazed with con-
trolled perturbation at Burning Day
light striding into the room. The free.
swinging movements of the trailtrav-
eler were unconsciously exaggerated in
that stride of his. In truth, 1t seemed
to him that he felt the trail beneath
his feet.
"Howdy, gentlemen, howdy,' he re-
marked, ignoring the unnatural calm
with which they greeted his entrance.
He shook hands with them In turn,
striding from one to another and grip
ping their hands so heartily that Ma
thaniel Letton could not forbear to
vince. Daylight flung himself into a
massive chair and sprawled lazily, with
an appearance of fatigue. The leather
grip he had brought into the room he
dropped carelessly beside him on the
floor.
i've sure been going some" he sigh
ed. I'VE sure trimmed them beautifully.
1t was real slick. And the beauty Of the
play never dawned on me till the very
end. II was pure and simple knock
down and drag put. And the way they
fell for 1t was amaxin'."
Letton made a dry sound In his
throat. Dowsett sat quietly and wait
ed. while Leon Guggenhammer strug-
gled into articulation.
You certainly have raised Cain" he
said.
Daylight's black eyes flashed in a
pleasant way.
Didn't l. thought" he proclaimed,
j~ubilantly. And didn't we fool EN-!
| was teetotally surprised. ! never
dreamed they would be that easy.
And now" he went on, o permit
ting the pause to grow awkward, I'VE
all might as well have an accounting.
I'm pullin' West this afternoon on
that blamed Twentieth Century" He
tugged at his grip, got * open, and dip
ped into 1t with both his hands. But
don't forget, boys. when you-all want
me to h~ornswoggle Wall Street anoth-
err fiutter. all you-all have to do is
whisper the word. I'll sure be right
there with the goods"
His hands emerged, clutching a
great mass of stubs, check-books, and
brokers' receipts. These he depos-
tied in a heap on the big tabis, and
dipping again. he fished out the strag-
glers and added them TO the pile. He
consulted a slip Of paper, drawn from
his coat pocket and read aloud:
Ten million twenty-seven thousand
and forty-two dollars and sixty-eight
cents is my flgurin' on my expense
or course that-alrs taken from the
winnings before we-all get to figurin
on the whack-up. Where's your fg
ures? 1t must a been a mighty big
cleanup"
The three men looked their bepuz-
element at n another. The man was
a bigger fool than they had imagin.
ed, or else he was playing a game
which they could not divine.
Nathaniel Letton moistened his lips
and spoke up.
1T win take some hours yet. Mr..
f1druibu, tcioft the Iull can
be made. Mr.. Howison is at work upon
II now. We-ah-as you say, 1t has
been a gratifying cleanup. Suppose
we have lunch together and talk it
w I'll have the clerks work through
the moo hour so that you will have
ample time to catch your train"
Dowsett and Guggenhammer mani
tested a relief that was almost OBJ
vious. The situation was clearing. 1t
was ~disconcerting. under the circuin,
stances. to be pent in the same room
with this heavy-muscled, Indianlike
man whom tLey had robbed. They re-
membered unpleasantly the many stor-
les of hfs strength and recklessness. II
Letton could only put him or long
enough for them to escape into the po-
Iced world outside the Office door. all
would be well; and Daylight showed
all the signs of being put on.
I'm real glad to hear that" ha said
Il don't want to miss that train. and
you-aTl have done me proud. gentle