The hot day wore away, and presently I saw Tom and Elam coming back. They could not stay away when they knew that something was going on behind their backs. Mr. Davenport and Bob came out; the cook began to bestir himself, the dishes rattled in the kitchen, and in a little while they told us that supper was ready. Of course we had to be as neat here as we had anywhere else, and Elam and I found ourselves at the wash-basin. There was no one in sight.
“Elam,” said I, in an excited whisper, “whatever you do, you mustn’t go to sleep to-night!”
“Sho!” answered Elam. “What’s going on to-night?”
“Coyote Bill has made up his mind to steal that pocket-book. He says that the bonds are all he wants out of it. He means some mining stocks, I suppose.”
“Well,” exclaimed Elam, burying his face in the towel, “how is he goin’ to work to get it?”
“He intends to come in after we are all asleep and feel under the pillows for it. He asked me if I slept rather soundly at night, and I don’t know what answer I made him; but I thought of you and concluded you could keep awake. I have found out, too, that his name is Coyote Bill, just as you said it was.”
“What did I tell you?” said Elam, delighted to know that he had found out something about the man. “I knowed that was the way I would act if I was him. What did he say when you told him?”
“He told me I was a brave boy and ought to be one of ‘us,’ as he explained it. Does he mean that I ought to belong to his gang and help him steal cattle?”
“Sure! You couldn’t be one of him and help do anything else, could you? How do you reckon he is going to come in?”
“I don’t know. You will have to keep wide awake and find out.”
“I’ll bet you I don’t sleep a wink to-night. If he thinks he can get away with that pocket-book let him try it; that’s all.”
“But I don’t see why he should pick me out as a brave boy and want me to join his gang.”
“Well, Carlos, I will say this fur you,” said Elam, putting the towel back on its nail and rolling down his sleeves: “You have a most innercent way of talkin’ when you get into danger, an’ a man don’t think you know that there is danger in it.”
“Nonsense! I have been afraid that Bill would shoot at any minute. I am really afraid of him.”