Part 10 (1/2)
He ceased, meditatively expelled a cloud of pungent smoke, and folded his arms.
”Of course,” said I with a sneer, ”you have proofs to back your pleasant tale?”
”Sure. I made a map.”
”I see,” said I sarcastically. ”You propose to have me pay you for that map?”
”Sure.”
”How much, my confiding friend?”
”Ten thousand plunks.”
I began to laugh. He laughed, too: ”You'll pay 'em if you take my map an'
go to the Coquina hills,” he said.
I stopped laughing: ”Do you mean that I am to go there and investigate before I pay you for this information?”
”Sure. If the goods ain't up to sample the deal is off.”
”Sample? What sample?” I demanded derisively.
He made a gesture with one soiled hand as though quieting a balky horse.
”I took a snapshot, friend. You wanta take a slant at it?”
”You took a photograph of one of these alleged cave-dwellers?”
”I took ten but when these here cave-ladies hove rocks at me the fillums was put on the blink--all excep' this one which I dee-veloped an'
printed.”
He drew from his inner coat pocket a photograph and handed it to me--the most amazing photograph I ever gazed upon. Astounded, almost convinced I sat looking at this irrefutable evidence in silence. The smoke of his cigar drifting into my face aroused me from a sort of dazed inertia.
”Listen,” I said, half strangled, ”are you willing to wait for payment until I personally have verified the existence of these--er--creatures?”
”You betcher! When you have went there an' have saw the goods, just let me have mine if they're up to sample. Is that right?”
”It seems perfectly fair.”
”It is fair. I wouldn't try to do a scientific guy--no, sir. Me without no eddycation, only brains? Fat chance I'd have to put one over on a Academy sport what's chuck-a-block with Latin an' Greek an' scientific stuff an' all like that!”
I admitted to myself that he'd stand no chance.
”Is it a go?” he asked.
”Where is the map?” I inquired, trembling internally with excitement.
”Ha--ha!” he said. ”Listen to my mirth! The map is inside here, old sport!” and he tapped his retreating forehead with one nicotine-stained finger.