A great light flashed upon the cowman, and the questions and answers which fell from his lips during the next few minutes were intended to hide his real purpose.
"What do you mean by treating Motoza right?
If he was treated right he'd be kicking the air this very minute." "I agree with you," said Tozer, laughing; "but Motoza doesn't, and he's the one who asks to be treated right, as he considers it." "I've said that if he produces the younker, and we find he hain't been harmed, why we'll call it a joke and drop the whole thing." Tozer gazed at a distant mountain peak and thoughtfully chewed tobacco for a minute.

He was approaching delicate ground and needed all his _finesse_.
"That's fair on your part, and is more than he ought to expect, but I've a suspicion it isn't what he means." "Do you know what he means, Bill ?" "No; he hasn't told me a word, but I think I can guess it." "Wal, then, guess." "Remember it's only a guess, and I may be away off." Hazletine nodded his head.
"I'm listening." "I suspect Motoza has the tenderfoot in hiding somewhere, where there's no chance of his getting away or of any of his friends finding him." "What does the scamp mean by doing that ?" "He must have had an idea that the father of the Greenwood boy has enough money to pay a good sum to recover him unharmed." "That's a new scheme! I've heard of such things in the East, but never knowed 'em to be tried in this part of the country." "Bear in mind," Tozer hastened to add, "that it's all guesswork on my part." "You've said that afore, but it's powerful good guessing, Bill.

It's my 'pinion you ain't a thousand miles from the truth, but you can see this makes a mighty different thing of the bus'ness." "How so ?" "The younker's father lives in New York; he's got to be reached, and the question laid afore him.

How much money will Motoza ask to produce the younker ?" "Certainly not much--something like five thousand dollars, I should say." "That is rather a healthy pile for you or me, but I don't 'spose it's more than a trifle for them folks in the East." "Of course not; they'll raise it at once, and be glad to do so." "But it'll take two weeks at least." "Not necessarily; you can telegraph from Fort Steele, and two or three days ought to wind up the whole business." "But you can't telegraph the money." "Yes, you can; nothing is easier." Hazletine was silent a minute or two.
"It sounds easy 'nough, the way you put it, but it won't be so powerful easy after all.

I s'pose the Sioux will want the money afore he turns over the younker ?" "Of course; that's business." "How can we know he'll give up the younker after he gits the money ?" "In a matter of this kind, a point must be reached where one party has to trust the other, and Motoza wouldn't dare play you false." "He wouldn't, eh?
Just give him the chance." "Then we won't let him.