Silent went on: "If we can't turn her loose, they's only one thing
left--an' that's to take her with us wherever we go."
"On your honour, do you see no other way out?"
"Do you?"
"She may promise not to speak of it."
"There ain't no way of changin' the spots of a leopard, Lee, an' there
ain't no way of keepin' a woman's tongue still."
"How can we take a girl with us."
"It ain't goin' to be for long. After we pull the job that comes on
the eighteenth, we'll blow farther south an' then we'll let her go."
"And no harm will come to her while she's with us?"
"Here's my hand on it, Lee."
"How can she ride with us?"
"She won't go as a woman. I've thought of that. I brought out a new
outfit for Purvis from Elkhead--trousers, chaps, shirts, an' all. He's
small. They'll near fit the girl."
"There isn't any other way, Jim?"
"I leave it to you. God knows I don't want to drag any damn calico
aroun' with us."
As they went back towards their clearing they arranged the details.
Silent would take the men aside and explain his purpose to them.
Haines could inform the girl of what she must do. Just before they
reached the camp Silent stopped short and took Haines by the shoulder.
Pages:
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161