Page:Frank Spearman--Whispering Smith.djvu/117

 “Forgotten!”

“That’s a blamed queer name”

“On the contrary, it’s a very common name and that is just the trouble: it’s forgotten.”

“What do you want, Bill?” demanded McCloud, turning to the lineman.

“Is this man all right?” asked Dancing, jerking his thumb toward the easy chair.

“I can’t say; you’ll have to ask him.”

“I’ll save you that trouble, Bill, by saying that if it’s for the good of the division I am all right. Death to its enemies, damme, say I. Now go on, William, and give us your plan in regards to getting these hold-ups—yes.”

Dancing looked from one man to the other, but McCloud appeared preoccupied and his visitor seemed wholly serious. “I don’t want to take too much on myself—” Bill began, speaking to McCloud.

“You look as if you could carry a fair-sized load, William, provided it bore the right label,” suggested the visitor, entirely amiable.

“—But nobody has felt worse over this thing and recent things”

“Recent things,” echoed the easy chair.

“—happening to the division that I have. Now I know there’s been trouble on the division” 95