What do you want? The earth? Didn't I do the dirty work? If I'd
been caught, who'd have been soaked? You? I guess not. It would have
been me who would have been killed, for I'm like the other fellows--I'd
have fought until they killed me. You're not entitled to more than five
thousand, and that's all you'll get."
"I won't take it. Half or I squeal."
"Squeal, then."
There was a sudden trampling of feet in the other room, the crash of an
overturning table, followed by a yell of death agony, and the thud of a
falling body.
"Great Scott, one of them is dead," said Ted, with a shudder.
He was listening intently, and heard a scuffle of feet, then hurried
footsteps died away and a door slammed somewhere.
Deep silence followed.
Then the horror of the situation burst upon Ted, The house had been
deserted by the only living creature, except himself, who was left to
starve to death in this prison, with a dead man in the next room.
One or the other of the two men who had held him captive had done murder
and escaped with the stolen money.
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