"Of course, if there's a mistake to be made, you can
count on Barrett and his sergeants to make it. I doubt if this is their
man. When they found him what clothes he wore were torn and stained; but
they had been good once, especially the linen."
Barrett bent over the recumbent figure. "See here. Jerry," he said, "I
want to talk to you a little. Rouse up, will you? I want to talk to you as
a friend."
The incoherent muttering continued.
"See here, Jerry!" repeated Barrett, more sharply. "Jerry! rouse up, will
you? We don't want any fooling; understand that, Jerry!" He dropped his
hand on the man's shoulder and shook him slightly. The Teller uttered a
short, gasping cry.
"Let me," said Gay, and swiftly interposed. Bending over the cot, he said
in a pleasant, soft voice: "It's all right, old man; it's all right.
Slattery wants to know what you did with that man down at Plattville, when
you got through with him. He can't remember, and he thinks there was money
left on him. Slattery's head was hurt--he can't remember. He'll go shares
with you, when he gets it. Slattery's going to stand by you, if he can get
the money."
The Teller only tried to move his free hand to the shoulder Barrett had
shaken.
"Slattery wants to know," repeated the surgeon, gently moving the hand
back upon the sheet. "He'll divvy up, when he gets it.
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