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Show 72 As he said it Josh could-in spite of himself-look no place in the cabin except at the canvas bag. With a snort of disgust Bixby slammed his fist into the table. "Forget it, Rollo. He knows. Look at him. He hasn't been able to keep his eyes off the bag since he came in.* Angrily Rollins jerked the boy to the middle of the room. "Grandpa Raintree, huh? You're pretty cute, aren't you?" Reaching for the bag, the phony detective grunted as he lifted it. The bag made a heavy thud as he set it on the floor at Josh's feet. "Is this what you're so dadblasted interested in, Wise Guy?" With a snarl, Rollins unzipped the bag and held it open. Burning with curiosity, Josh leaned forward to peek into the bag. Sure enough, the soft yellow gleam of the gold bar shone in its gloomy depths. "Why, it's the gold bar," Josh said, looking sick. •You bet your boots it is, you smart-Alec kid." Bixby stood up and shook his head. 'You shouldn't a done that, Rollo. That was stupid." 'You said he knew." Bixby made a growling noise and threw uo his hands. "Well, he certainly knows now. So what are we going to do with him when McCloskie shows up?" Rollins glanced around theroom. "We'll just tie him up good. The old man or somebody'11 find him in a day or two." Contemplating, Bixby massaged the stubble of beard on his hollow cheeks. "I don't know. . . ." |