“Still, you can’t blame me. I thought I was doing everything for the best.”
Enoch talked in a smooth, easy tone, free of excitement. His manner more than his words impressed Kidd.
“Why,” added Cook, after a pause, “if you sold the diamond, I was to have half the proceeds.”
“Yes; and you can bet your sweet life I would have kept my word!”
“Do you suppose, even if I were inclined to give you the ‘razzle-dazzle,’ I could make better terms with Murphy?”
“I never gave that side of the case a thought,” said Kidd hesitatingly.
“Now,” said Enoch, “the question confronts us--how are we going to get back the diamond?”
“Unarmed as we are, we can’t burst in the door.”
“We would be shot down if we tried that racket.”
“That we take Mike Quick into partnership,” replied Cook.
“Quick thinks more about money than any mere bond of friendship.”
“Well,” said Kidd, “I’ll leave the whole business in your hands. Monte Murphy would not have the diamond in the first place but for you.”
“Don’t harp forever on that string,” returned Enoch.
“Now Murphy knows the gem was stolen by us, and how can Quick force him to give it up?”
“When?” repeated Cook; “why, we must get down to business at once.”
“I’ll meet you at Quick’s in about an hour,” said Dick.
“I’ll tell you this much, if I don’t recover the diamond, Monte Murphy will never sell it!”
The pair of precious rascals parted on Broadway, near Chambers Street. Enoch went directly to Quick’s. It was long after midnight, but the place was in full blast. Petty gamblers and thieves formed the bulk of the body of customers.
“Mike, I want to see you alone for a few minutes.”
“Say, Enoch, don’t you see I am up to my eyes in biz?”
“Yes, but this is a very important matter.”
“Can’t we talk about it to-morrow?” remarked Quick.
Mike called one of his cronies to take his place behind the bar. Then he conducted his visitor to a room on the floor above the store.
“Now, spit out this precious business of yours, and be quick about it.”
“You remember the diamond I spoke to you about?”
“Yes; you said Kidd had a stone worth a few thousands.”
“It is worth half a million dollars, if it is worth a cent.”
“Oh, come off! You don’t expect me to swallow any such yarn?”
“Mike,” said Cook solemnly, “I swear I only speak the truth!”