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it and pay well, said he, if I could get some stuff that would suit my editor. I said what I thought would please him best, and he handed me a twenty-dollar bill for my information. Theres ten times that for you, said he, if you can find me all that I want. What did you tell him, then? Any stuff I could make up. How do you know he wasnt a newspaper man? Ill tell you. He got out at Hobsons Patch, and so did I. I chanced into the telegraph bureau, and he was leaving it. See here, said the operator after hed gone out, I guess we should charge double rates for this.I guess you should, said I. He had filled the form with stuff that might have been Chinese, for all we could make of it. He fires a sheet of this off every day, said the clerk. Yes, said I; its special news for his paper, and hes scared that the others should tap it. That was what the operator thought and what I thought at the time; but I think differently now. By Garl I believe you are right, said McGinty. But what do you allow that we should do about it? Why not go right down now and fix him? someone suggested. Ay, the sooner the better. Id start this next minute if I knew where we could find him, said McMurdo. Hes in Hobsons Patch; but I dont know the house. Ive got a plan, though, if youll only take my advice. Well, what is it? Ill go to the Patch to-morrow morning. Ill find him through the operator. He can locate him, I guess. Well, then Ill tell him that Im a Freeman myself. Ill offer him all the secrets of the lodge for a price. You bet hell tumble to it. Ill tell him the papers are at my house, and that its as much as my life would be worth to let him come while folk were about. Hell see that thats horse sense. Let him come at ten oclock at night, and he shall see everything. That will fetch him sure. Well? You can plan the rest for yourselves. Widow MacNamaras is a lonely house. Shes as true as steel and as deaf as a post. Theres only Scanlan and me in the house. If I get his promiseand Ill let you know if I doId have the whole seven of you come to me by nine oclock. Well get him in. If ever he gets out alive well, he can talk of Birdy Edwards luck for the rest of his days! Theres going to be a vacancy at Pinkertons or Im mistaken. Leave it at that, McMurdo. At nine to- morrow well be with you. You once get the door shut behind him, and you can leave the rest with us. |
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