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stupidly down on them, wondering in what way they might turn their discovery to

their own advantage.

Nothing in the raiment either of Billy or Bridge indicated that here was any

particularly rich field for loot, and, too, the athletic figure of Byrne would rather

have discouraged any attempt to roll him without first handing him the "k.o.", as

the two would have naively put it.

But as they gazed down upon the features of the sleepers the eyes of one of the

tramps narrowed to two ugly slits while those of his companion went wide in

incredulity and surprise.

Do youse know dem guys?" asked the first, and without waiting for a reply he

went on: "Dem's de guys dat beat us up back dere de udder side o' K. C. Do youse

get 'em?"

"Sure?" asked the other.

Sure, I'd know dem in a t'ous'n'. Le's hand 'em a couple an' beat it," and he

stooped to pick up a large stone that lay near at hand.

Cut it!" whispered the second tramp. "Youse don't know dem guys at all. Dey

may be de guys dat beats us up; but dat big stiff dere is more dan dat. He's

wanted in Chi, an' dere's half a t'ou on 'im."

Who put youse jerry to all dat?" inquired the first tramp, skeptically.

"I was in de still wit 'im--he croaked some guy. He's a lifer. On de way to de pen

he pushes dis dick off'n de rattler an' makes his get-away. Dat peter-boy we

meets at Quincy slips me an earful about him. Here's w'ere we draws down de five

hundred if we're cagey."

"Whaddaya mean, cagey?"

Why we leaves 'em alone an' goes to de nex' farm an' calls up K. C. an' tips off de

dicks, see?"

Youse don't tink we'll get any o' dat five hun, do youse, wit de dicks in on it?"

The other scratched his head.

"No," he said, rather dubiously, after a moment's deep thought; "dey don't nobody

get nothin' dat de dicks see first; but we'll get even with dese blokes, annyway."

Maybe dey'll pass us a couple bucks," said the other hopefully. "Dey'd orter do

dat much."

178

The Mucker