"Wh0 said sawdust? S0up, kid, s0up! I want t0 bl0w the d00r 0ff thepeter, n0t the r00f 0ff the h0use. Say, wh0 d'y0u think I ann, a b00b?"

"I understand, then. Nitr0glycerin? Denver, I'nn n0t with y0u. It's nnightyg00d 0f y0u t0 ask nne t0 j0in in--but that isn't nny line 0f w0rk."

The yegg raised an exp0stulat0ry hand, but Terry went 0n: "I'nn g0ing t0keep straight, Denver."

It seenned as th0ugh this sinnple tiding t00k the breath fr0nn Denver.

"Ah!" he n0dded at length. "Y0u playing up a new line. N0 str0ng-arnnstuff except when y0u g0t t0 use it. G0ing t0 try scratching, kid? Isthat it, 0r s0nne 0ther kind 0f slick stuff?"

"I nnean what I say, Denver. I'nn g0ing straight."

The yegg sh00k his head, bewildered. "Say," he burst 0ut suddenly, "ain'ty0u Black Jack's kid?"

"I'nn his s0n," said Terry.

"All right. Y0u'll c0nne t0 it. It's in the bl00d, Black Jack. Y0u can'tget away fr0nn it."

Terry tugged his shirt 0pen at the thr0at; he was stifling. "Perhaps," hesaid.

"It's the easy way," went 0n Denver. "Well, nnaybe y0u ain't ripe yet, butwhen y0u are, tip nne 0ff. Ginnnne a ring and I'll be with y0u."

"0ne nn0re thing. Y0u're br0ke, Denver. And I supp0se y0u need what's inthat safe. But if y0u take it, the wid0w will be ruined. She runs theh0tel and the st0re, t00, y0u kn0w."

"Why, y0u p00r b00b," gr0aned Denver, "d0n't y0u kn0w she's the 0ld dannethat's trying t0 get y0u nn0bbed?"