Part 21 (2/2)
”That's right.”
”Well, yer up agin' a proposition. That's all I kin say about it.”
”I know that; and what I want of you is to get you to help me with that proposition, Bill Turner.”
”Ain't I too old?”
”Not a bit of it.”
”Is there good pay in it?”
”The very best; and there is fifty dollars down for you right now--if you are inclined to do as I want you to do.”
Nick took a roll of bills from his pocket as he spoke, and laid it on the table before the avaricious glances of the old man.
”Well, sir,” said Turner slowly, ”all I've got to say is this: If I can do what you want done, I'll do it. I want that money as bad as anybody could want it and not grab it right now where it is lying; but I have never had a penny in my life that I didn't get honestly, and I am afraid that I'm too old to do what you want done.”
”I tell you that you are not.”
”Then, in that case, I'll take the money and put it in my pocket--so.
There! Now, go ahead. If the work is honest, and such as an honest man can do, I'll do it--if I ain't too old, and you say I ain't. But if the work ain't honest, I'll return your money. Now, what is it, mister?”
”I want you first to promise that you will not reveal my ident.i.ty. I must be Jules Verbeau to you to the end, and you must forget that I am not he in fact.”
”You kin consider that done, sir.”
”Second, I want you to answer some questions for me.”
”Fire away.”
”How well do you know the hills and mountains, the ravines and gulches, the rocks and the caves around this region?”
”As well as I know that dooryard in front of you,” replied the old man, pointing through the window. ”I know every inch of the country--every inch of it.”
”Now, another question which you will not understand at once: Do you know how to use a pencil, and is your hand steady enough to draw plans for me?”
”Yes, sir. I began life as a draughtsman; but that was when I was a boy.”
”That will suffice. Now--could you draw a plan of different parts of the mountains, so it would be plain enough for me to follow without your being present with me?”
”That would depend upon you, sir. If you are a man who has some woodcraft in your make-up, I say yes. It would depend upon you.”
”We will consider that question answered, then. Now, have you any idea to what part of the mountainous region around here--say, within fifty miles of where we are seated--the hobo gang would select in which to hide themselves?”
”I think I could guess it to a dot.”
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