"You bet you do," he replied
heartily, "and what's more I'll add another fifty to it.
What do you know?"
"I seen the murderer this mornin'," Willie was gasp-
ing with excitement and elation. Already the one hun-
dred dollars was as good as his. One hundred dollars!
Willie "Goshed!" mentally even as he told his tale. "He
come to our house an' bought some vittles an' stuff. Paw
didn't know who he wuz; but when Paw went inside he
told me he was The Oskaloosie Kid 'n' thet he robbed a
house last night and killed a man, 'n' he had a whole
pocket full o' money, 'n' he said he'd kill me ef I told."
Detective Burton could scarce restrain a smile as he
listened to this wildly improbable tale, yet his profes-
sional instinct was too keen to permit him to cast aside
as worthless the faintest evidence until he had proven
it to be worthless. He stepped from the car again and
motioning to Willie to follow him returned to the Case
yard where Jeb was already coming toward the gate,
having noted the interest which his son was arousing
among the occupants of the car. Willie pulled at the
detective's sleeve. "Don't tell Paw about the reward,"
he begged; "he'll keep it all hisself.
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