ce. Thad is pretty keen in some
ways. But I doubt if he'll stay there long. He'll be pulling out for the
mountains. There's a late moon to-night, you see."

"I wish I could go with you; this old leg--"

"Never mind now; don't worry. I'll take Bennie Shultz and make him
messenger. If Thad's there you can get down to the drug store and call
Willstown. That'll make our case sure. By cracky, old scout, five
hundred! We can--"

"Chickens, old man; chickens. Hatch 'em first. But you will, I'll bet,
and it will be yours; not--"

"What are you talking about? Ours! It's as much your job as mine.
Divy-divy, half'n'half, fifty-fifty. Well, I'm off."

CHAPTER XXIII

JUSTICE

"Now then, Bennie," whispered Gus, "beat it on the q.t. Then streak it
for Bill's house. He'll be watching for you. Tell him our man is here
and probably getting ready to light out. You needn't come back; I'm only
going to spot this bird and find out where he goes, if I can. You'll get
well paid for this, kid."

The two boys were lying on the sandy ground among young cedars, and
watching the little cabin not fifty yards distant. Out of this crude
shack had come the sole occupant, to stand and gaze about him for a
minute, lifting his face to the moon. Gus could plainly distinguish the
gray cap, the slender build of the youth; he recognized the walk, a
certain manner of standing, and once he plainly caught that upward shift
of the shoulder. Then Gus gave his orders to Bennie, knowing that they
would be carried out with precision, for the little fellow, almost a
waif and lacking proper influences, would have nearly laid down his life
for Gus after the athlete had very deservedly whipped two town bullies
that were making life miserable for him. Moreover, the youngster wanted
to be like Gus and Bill, in the matter of mentality, and a promise of
reward meant money with which he could buy books.

Left alone, Gus crept nearer the cabin. He could be reasonably sure of
himself, but not of Bennie, who might crack a stick or sneeze. Some low
cedars grew on the slope above the cabin; Gus took advantage of these
and got within about forty feet of the shack. Then he lay watching for
fully an hour, there being no sign of the inmate. But after what had
seemed to Gus almost half the night, out came the suspect, stood a
moment as before and started off; it could be seen that he carried a
small pack and a heavy stick in his hands.

Then Gus was taken by surp