d Brodie might now be
looked to for rough-shod methods. So, in face of the bristling
hostility, he was set in his determination to see the thing through to
one end or another. To catch an interest which he knew was always
readily awakened, he said:

"Brodie and Parker were on Lookout Ridge day before yesterday. Brodie
shoved Parker over. _At Lookout Ridge_, Honeycutt." He stressed the
words significantly while keenly watching for the gleam of interest in
the faded eyes. It came; Honeycutt jerked his head up.

"I wish I'd of shot him," he wailed. "I wish to God I'd of blowed his
ugly head off."

"It might have saved trouble," admitted King coolly. "Also, it might
have been the job to hang you, Honeycutt. Better leave well enough
alone. But listen to me: Brodie told you, and he meant it, that it was
going to be Brodie or King who got away with this deal."

"He lied! Like you lie!" Here was Honeycutt probed in his tenderest
spot. "It'll be me! Me, I tell you. I'm the only man that knows, I'm the
only man that's got the right--"

"Brodie spoke of right. No one has a right more than any other man. It's
treasure-trove, Honeycutt; it's the man's who can find it and bring it
in."

"That'll be me. You'll see. Think I'm old, do you?" He spoke jeeringly
and clenched a pair of palsied fists. "I'm feelin' right peart this
spring; by summer I'll be strong as a young feller again."

"By summer will be too late. Don't I tell you that already Brodie has
gone as far as Lookout Ridge? That means he's getting hot on the trail
of it, doesn't it? As hot as I am."

"Then what are you comin' pesterin' me for? If you know where it is?"

"I don't know." Honeycutt cackled and rubbed his hands at the admission.
"But I'm going to find out. So, probably, is Brodie. Now, look here,
Honeycutt; I haven't come to browbeat you as Brodie did. I am for making
you a straight business proposition. If you know anything, I stand ready
to buy your knowledge. In cold, hard cash."

"No man ain't got the money--not enough--not any Morgan or
Rock'feller----"

King began opening the parcel he had brought from the post-office. As he
cut the heavy cord with his pocket-knife Honeycutt looked on curiously.
King stepped to the table, standing so that out of the corners of his
eyes he commanded both doors, and stripped off the wrapping-paper.

"Look sharp, Honeycutt," he commanded. "Here's money enough to last you
as long as you live. All yours if you can t