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Jes so, jes so,I said so, Tom, said Haley; and if youd only promise to have the boy for me in a week, at any point youll name, thats all I want. But it ant all I want, by a long jump, said Tom. Ye dont think I did business with you, down in Natchez, for nothing, Haley; Ive learned to hold an eel, when I catch him. Youve got to fork over fifty dollars, flat down, or this child dont start a peg. I know yer. Why, when you have a job in hand that may bring a clean profit of somewhere about a thousand or sixteen hundred, why, Tom, youre onreasonable, said Haley. Yes, and hasnt we business booked for five weeks to come,all we can do? And suppose we leaves all, and goes to bush-whacking round arter yer young uns, and finally doesnt catch the gal,and gals allers is the devil to catch,whats then? would you pay us a centwould you? I think I see you a doin itugh! No, no; flap down your fifty. If we get the job, and it pays, Ill hand it back; if we dont, its for our trouble,thats far, ant it, Marks? Certainly, certainly, said Marks, with a conciliatory tone; its only a retaining fee, you see,he! he! he!we lawyers, you know. Wal, we must all keep good-natured,keep easy, yer know. Tomll have the boy for yer, anywhere yell name; wont ye, Tom? If I find the young un, Ill bring him on to Cincinnati, and leave him at Granny Belchers, on the landing, said Loker. Marks had got from his pocket a greasy pocket-book, and taking a long paper from thence, he sat down, and fixing his keen black eyes on it, began mumbling over its contents: BarnesShelby Countyboy Jim, three hundred dollars for him, dead or alive. EdwardsDick and Lucyman and wife, six hundred dollars; wench Polly and two childrensix hundred for her or her head. Im jest a runnin over our business, to see if we can take up this yer handily. Loker, he said, after a pause, we must set Adams and Springer on the track of these yer; theyve been booked some time. Theyll charge too much, said Tom. Ill manage that ar; they s young in the business, and must spect to work cheap, said Marks, as he continued to read. Thers three on em easy cases, cause all youve got to do is to shoot em, or swear they is shot; they couldnt, of course, charge much for that. Them other cases, he said, folding the paper, will bear puttin off a spell. So now lets come to the particulars. Now, Mr. Haley, you saw this yer gal when she landed? To be sure,plain as I see you. And a man helpin on her up the bank? said Loker. To be sure, I did. Most likely, said Marks, shes took in somewhere; but where, s a question. Tom, what do you say? We must cross the river tonight, no mistake, said Tom. But theres no boat about, said Marks. The ice is running awfully, Tom; ant it dangerous? Donno nothing bout that,only its got to be done, said Tom, decidedly. |
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