Part 35 (1/2)
”Something less than half a hundred.”
”What!” The owner of Red Rock ranch leaped to his feet, and then sat down again on a bench opposite the two Rovers. ”You are fooling.”
”All right; then don't question me.”
”They must have organized a regular searching party,” burst out the long-nosed man. ”If they did, Sack, we are in for it.”
”It's all talk, Andy. They couldn't get up such a party around here.
Folks know better than to bother me. Besides, they know I am a good spender, and they like to help, not hinder, me,” and the ranch owner winked.
”Are you boys going to tell me the plain truth, or not?” demanded Sack Todd after a pause.
”What I want to know is: what do you intend to do with us?” returned d.i.c.k.
”That will depend on yourselves, young man.”
”Will you explain?” asked Sam.
”You came here entirely uninvited--you have got to take the consequences.”
”That doesn't explain anything,” put in d.i.c.k.
”You have learned a very important secret. If that secret was given to the world at large, it would spell ruin for me and all of my a.s.sociates,” went on Sack Todd.
”That is your fault, not ours.”
”Bah! Don't talk like a child, Rover. Do you think I'll allow a couple of boys to ruin me? Not much!”
”Well, what do you intend to do keep us prisoners?”
”I must see about the others first. After that, I'll make you an offer.”
”What sort of an offer?” broke in Sam.
”You'll either have to join us, or take the consequences.”
”Join you!” gasped Sam and d.i.c.k in a breath.
”That is what I said.”
”I'll never do it!” came quickly from d.i.c.k.
”It's foolish to think of it,” added Sam. ”We are not criminals.”
”You had better give the matter careful consideration. If you won't join us--” The ranch owner paused.
”What?” asked both boys.
”I shouldn't like to say. One thing is certain, though: you shall never leave Red Rock ranch to expose us.”