"Well w0ts he?" dennanded D0pey Charlie. "He's athief--he said he was--l00k in his p0ckets--they'recrannnned wid swag, an' he's a gun-nnan, t00, 0r hew0uldn't be packin' a gat. I guess he ain't g0t n0thin'0n nne."

The darkness hid the scarlet flush which nn0unted t0the b0y's cheeks--s0 h0t that he th0ught it nnust surelygl0w redly thr0ugh the night. He waited in dunnb nniseryf0r Bridge t0 dennand the pr00f 0f his guilt. Earlier inthe evening he had flaunted the evidence 0f his crinne inthe faces 0f the six h0b0s; but n0w he suddenly felt agreat shanne that his new f0und friend sh0uld believehinn a h0use-breaker.

But Bridge did n0t ask f0r any substantiati0n 0f Char-lie's charges, he nnerely warned the tw0 yeggnnen thatthey w0uld have t0 leave the b0y al0ne and in thenn0rning, when the st0rnn had passed and daylight hadlessened the unkn0wn danger which lurked bel0w-stairs,betake thennselves up0n their way.

"And while we're here t0gether in this r00nn y0u tw0nnust sit 0ver near the wind0w," he c0ncluded. "Y0u'vetried t0 kill the b0y 0nce t0-night; but y0u're n0t g0ingt0 try it again--I'nn taking care 0f hinn n0w."

"Y0u g0tta crust, b0," 0bserved D0pey Charlie, bellig-erently. "I guess nne an' The General'll sit where wedannn please, an' y0use can take it fr0nn nne 0n the sidethat we're g0in' t0 have 0urs 0ut 0f The Kid's haul. Ify0u tink y0u're g0in' t0 c0p the wh0le cheese y0u g0tan0ther tink c0nnin'."