But let me do it my way."
Engle alone of the three drew a certain satisfaction from the interview.
"He has promised something definite," he told them. "Did you ever know
him to do that and fail to keep his word? Maybe we're getting a little
excited, boys."
The latest crime had been the robbery of the little bank at Packard
Springs. The highwayman had gone in the night to the room of the
cashier, forced him to dress, go to the bank, and open his safe. The
result was a theft of a couple of thousand dollars, no trace left
behind, and a growing feeling of insecurity throughout the county. It
was for this crime that Norton meant and promised to make an arrest.
Exactly seven days from the day of his promise Norton rode into San
Juan and asked for Tom Cutter. Struve, meeting him at the hotel door,
looked at him sharply.
"Made that arrest yet, Norton?" he demanded. Norton smiled.
"No, I haven't," he admitted coolly. "But I've got a few minutes
before my week's up, haven't I? Fix me up with something to eat and
I'll have a talk with you and Tom while I attend to the inner man."
But over his meal, while Cutter and Struve watched him impatiently, he
did little talking other than to ask carelessly where del Rio was.
"Damn it, man," cried Struve irritably.
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