an't you--put your brain to work?"

"Well, what's to be done?"

"If that big boog starts to overtake Jerkline Jo, he's got to be
stopped, and the copy taken away from him. While this is going on,
Filer must be held up and the original taken from him and destroyed.

"Then when we get the copy away from Hooker and destroy Filer's
original, we can throw our cards on the table and laugh at 'em. Come
right out and say, 'Yes, we schemed to beat you, and we've done it.
What're you going to do about it? You've got the tattooed part, we've
got the only copy of the other part. Make us an offer! Otherwise,
throw us in jail, if you think you've got it on us; but before we go
the paper will go up in smoke!' That'll hold 'em; and we'll demand
that we are not to be prosecuted, and we'll shake down half of the haul.

"But listen, Al--we'll do that only if they beat us out up to a point
where negotiations become necessary. If only we can destroy the
original and Hooker's copy, we can hold Hooker a prisoner till we get
at Jerkline Jo and find out what's on her head. Then we can hog it all
and beat it."

"Well--well, how'll we begin? You got me beat, Lucy. You're a better
schemer than I am. What's to be done first?"

"Beat it in your car to the mountains and get Tehachapi and the other
roughnecks. Send Tehachapi Hank up the line to waylay Filer between
camps somewhere, with instructions to get the original from him by hook
or crook. Leave it to Hank.

"Meantime, Hooker gets in here and starts after Jerkline Jo. It's
doubtful if the thickhead will think to memorize what's on his copy, as
I have done. Even if he does think to, he won't have time to do it
before you nab him. He's dense--he wouldn't learn it in a week, I'll
say!"

"You and Hank's friend will waylay him, then, and get his copy, destroy
it, and take Hooker into the mountains as a prisoner, with Hank's
friend to guard him. Then it will be up to you and me to get Jerkline
Jo as she's coming back through the mountains. Yes, I'll go along! It
seems the rest of you can do nothing. Leave that Jane to me! I'll get
her by a method unknown to you men!

"We'll dope her, cut off her hair, shave her scalp, and get the part of
the directions for finding the gold that we lack. Then, Al, why can't
you and I get the stuff, beat it, and give Hank and the other jasper
the ha-ha?"

"Lucy, you're getting to be a regular little devil!"

Lucy shrugged and seemed r