osal.

"You and Hahn make a good team," he said. "No. One's enough. He may get
lost--we'll take his horse--and that won't be our fault. He may make
Three Star late this afternoon. I wish I could be with him when he tells
what he knows. Time they locate the Hideout, we'll be miles away through
the south end and they'll have one hell of a time trailing us over the
rocks. The boys weren't over-keen about staying with the herd and they
can vamose. We'll tell them it's best to scatter for a bit and name a
meeting-place. The horses can stay in the park. If we put this deal over
right we don't need to bother about horse-trading. We can get clean out
of the country with a big stake, go down to South America and start up a
place. There are live times and good plays down there, boys. All right,
Cookie, we're coming. I'm going to take another look. It's ten to one
they're making for Beaver Dam Lake--on a picnic."

He laughed and the two laughed with him as he went for his survey and
returned, announcing that the girl and her escort were entering the
ravine at the other end. They rode through the trees toward them. Molly
and Donald came on so leisurely that Plimsoll feared they might have
turned back and, with Butch, he risked a look down the trail, sighting
them.

"They didn't recognize us," he said. "We've got to take Cookie into
this. You and Butch ride on through the trees a ways, Hahn, till you get
back of them. Then we'll get 'em between us. I'll wise Cookie up to what
we are doing."

It was more than doubtful whether the three ever intended for a second
to allow Cookie to share in the ransom money, but Plimsoll easily
persuaded him that he would be a partner, adding that it would be
foolish to let all the riders into the pot.

"She's Molly Casey of the Casey Mine," he told him. "Sandy Bourke's her
guardian. We'll make him come through with twenty or thirty thousand,
sabe? But there ain't enough to go all round and make a showing."

Cookie was a willing rascal and a natural adept at the double-cross. He
raised no objections and the trap was set and sprung.

"You go ahead, Cookie, and open up the gate," said Plimsoll. Hahn and
Butch were speeding Donald Keith on his way with close-flung bullets.
"I'm going to have a little private talk with this lady. Go to the cabin
and get some grub ready. There's plenty there. Spread yourself. We'll
be along in a little while. That was a nice job of roping you did. I
won't forget it