Packard opened his lips as though to speak,
but was silent as Royce continued:
"I took the money, Steve, an' went outside for a smoke, an' my hands
was shakin' like I was cold! Ten thousan' bucks in my tail pocket! It
was a dark night an' I didn't lose nineteen secon's hidin' the wad in a
good safe place. Which," slowly, "was the las' time I ever saw it!"
"I thought you said----"
"I got it safe? I have. But I ain't ever seen anything since that
night, Steve. The night your dad died, the night I hid the money, was
the night I went blind."
"You haven't told me about that yet, Bill," said Packard gently.
"No; but I'm goin' to now. It's part of the yarn I got to spin
to-night. Like I said I took the wad--your father had slipped it back
in a flat sort of pocketbook--an' went outside. It was night already
an' dark. Ten thousan' bucks for me to keep safe for you!"
Again he ran his hand across his forehead.
"I knew where there was a rock in the corner foundation of the house
that I could work loose; where if I put the greenbacks they wouldn't
spoil if it rained or even if the house burned down. I stuck 'em in
there, got the rock back like it was before, made sure nobody saw me,
an' went off by myself for a smoke.
"'Cause why did I take that chance? I didn't take no chances at all, I
tell you, Steve! How did I know, your father gettin' delirious at the
finish which came downright quick, but he'd give the game away? An' on
the ranch then there was men that would do mos' anything for ten
thousan', give 'em the show.
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