h money to pay a good sum to recover him unharmed."

"That's a new scheme! I've heard of such things in the East, but never
knowed 'em to be tried in this part of the country."

"Bear in mind," Tozer hastened to add, "that it's all guesswork on my
part."

"You've said that afore, but it's powerful good guessing, Bill. It's my
'pinion you ain't a thousand miles from the truth, but you can see this
makes a mighty different thing of the bus'ness."

"How so?"

"The younker's father lives in New York; he's got to be reached, and the
question laid afore him. How much money will Motoza ask to produce the
younker?"

"Certainly not much--something like five thousand dollars, I should
say."

"That is rather a healthy pile for you or me, but I don't 'spose it's
more than a trifle for them folks in the East."

"Of course not; they'll raise it at once, and be glad to do so."

"But it'll take two weeks at least."

"Not necessarily; you can telegraph from Fort Steele, and two or three
days ought to wind up the whole business."

"But you can't telegraph the money."

"Yes, you can; nothing is easier."

Hazletine was silent a minute or two.

"It sounds easy 'nough, the way you put it, but it won't be so powerful
easy after all. I s'pose the Sioux will want the money afore he turns
over the younker?"

"Of course; that's business."

"How can we know he'll give up the younker after he gits the money?"

"In a matter of this kind, a point must be reached where one party has
to trust the other, and Motoza wouldn't dare play you false."

"He wouldn't, eh? Just give him the chance."

"Then we won't let him. I'll guarantee that he shall keep his part of
the agreement in spirit and letter."

It was on Hazletine's tongue to ask who should guarantee the honesty of
Bill Tozer, but for reasons of his own he kept back the question.

"Wal, now, to git down to bus'ness, as you say; s'pose Doctor Greenwood
sends word that he won't or can't raise the money you ask--what then?"

Tozer shrugged his shoulders suggestively.

"Don't forget that I am guessing all the way through. I should say,
however, that Doctor Greenwood would never see his boy again."

"I'm afraid he never will, as the matter now stands."

"That depends on the parent. If he is not rich, the father of that young
man over yonder is, and he would let him have the money."

"No doubt he'd do that very thing; but s'pose the thing is all fixed and
carried out as you