“I don’t like this bizness of killin’; ’taint human, no way you can fix it.”

“Come, Dick, don’t make a fool of yourself.  I want you to stand by me now, like a man.”

“I shall have nothing to do with killin’ Hadley; you may jist put a peg there, and say no more about it.”

“Well, let me alone, then, and don’t interfere with my plans, and I’ll do it myself.”

“Ef it’s to be done at all, better let old Sampson do it.  I’d a good deal rather his hands should be made red with Hadley’s blood than mine.  The truth is, Hadley is a first rate chap, and it’s a mean, cowardly act to take his life.”  “Come, come! no more of that sort of talk.  If you don’t want to help me, just let me alone; with old Sampson’s aid, I can get along without you; but I don’t see what has come over you, of late.”

“Well, I ken soon tell you that I’m down on this wimen bizness, and allers have been; and it is mean, low, dirty work—­this steelin’ poor things—­any way you ken fix it, and I’ve told you so often.  I don’t believe any good will come of it in the end, either; ef I could have my way, there shouldn’t, that’s certain.  Ef you will go ahead, why, go; but I tell you no good will come of it at last.  I would be glad ef you would quit now; but I’ll not stand in your way, becoz I’ve agreed to stand by you already.”

With this understanding, the rascals returned to the house—­if house it could be called—­and very soon afterward intimated that they would retire.

“As the stranger seems very tired,” said Bill to the host, “we will willingly remain until you show him his room,” and he gave the proprietor of the premises a knowing wink.

As Hadley rose to follow the host, he thanked the men for their kindness, and Dick turned away to conceal his feelings, for he was really sick at heart, bad as he was, at the thought that so noble a fellow should fall a sacrifice for such a base purpose; and he half resolved to give him warning of his danger, and save his life.  While his thoughts were thus occupied, the host returned, and he and Bill very soon went out together, Dick too well knew for what purpose.

“Ef I could only let them out and get them off safely, I’d do it,” mused Dick; “but there it is, I can’t do it, and it’s no use tryin’.”

But notwithstanding he came to this hopeless conclusion, he continued to think about the matter.  At last he concluded: 

“Well, ef I can’t do anything else, I ken give the feller a friendly word of advice, jist to kinder put him on his guard, like.”

So he stepped to the door of Hadley’s room, and gently tapping it until he gained the occupant’s attention, whispered in his listening ear: 

“There is danger about, stranger, and ef you take the advice of a friend, you’ll not sleep over heavy to-night.  Better have your arms ready for anything that may happen.”

“Thank you! my friend,” whispered Hadley, in response.