But the encounter was
unequal. In another moment both boys were lying side by side on the
floor and their captors stood over them. Even in the half light of
the little room both boys could see the blood-smeared cheek of the
marshal.
Jellup's hand was on Domingo's arm holding him back from further
attack on the helpless boys and the marshal was restraining his
anger as a snake withholds its venom until it strikes.
"Purty good," sneered the marshal, "and the funny thing is ye hain't
got a bullet through ye fur it. But my business ain't with dead
ones. Onct more, air ye goin' to say what ye'r a plannin' to do?"
"Since it doesn't concern you in the least," said Ned, slowly, "no."
Jellup was silent a moment.
"Fur kids ye seem to have plenty o' money. Ye'r purty free
spenders. I'll give ye one more chance. Ef ye've got a thousand
dollars handy fur a kind of a bond as it were I guess that'll sort
o' protect us."
"You mean for bribery?" exclaimed Alan.
"No, just instead of stealing," angrily added Ned. "We haven't a
thousand dollars and if we had you couldn't get a cent of it.
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