Page:West of Dodge (1926).pdf/291

 of it. He's put over the biggest swindle that ever was worked, it said. Got away with a million or two, cleaned up and skipped, leavin' them Kansas City bankers holdin' the sack."

"Well, it's not so astonishing, after all," Hall said. "I always thought the man was a crook. How did he work it?"

"That's all I got, Doc. A man can't cut in on them press wires too long, you know. If I grab off anything else I'll let you know."

"Thanks, old feller. I guess it's going to jolt them here in Damascus."

"Won't it?" said Nance.

Mrs. Charles appeared in the kitchen door, wagging her head in friendly greeting. She waved her apron vigorously at the flies as she held the screen door open to talk across the track.

"Who won the fight?" she wanted to know, in a pitch unnecessarily loud, considering that her voice had to carry only about forty feet.

"What fight?" Nance countered, in voice equally strong.

"I don't know. Wasn't there no fight? You look like you had prize-fightin' news."

"Better than that," Nance assured her, at the same time piquing her curiosity.

"What's happened?"

"It's on the q.t.," Nance shouted. "I'll come over and put it in your ear, but on the strict q.t. between railroaders, you understand?"

Mrs. Charles nodded her full understanding, and Nance knew she was an old-timer, to be trusted with the