If the latter tidings met him, these two good friends of
his whom he had enlisted for his reinforcement were to have five
crowns each and go home in peace; if the former, they were to do
their work and make ten crowns. Years after, one of them told me
the whole story without shame or reserve. What their work was,
the heavy bludgeons they carried and the long knife that one of
them had lent to Bauer showed pretty clearly.
But neither to Bauer nor to them did it occur that their quarry
might be crouching near, hunting as well as hunted. Not that the
pair of ruffians who had been thus hired would have hesitated for
that thought, as I imagine. For it is strange, yet certain, that
the zenith of courage and the acme of villainy can alike be
bought for the price of a lady's glove. Among such outcasts as
those from whom Bauer drew his recruits the murder of a man is
held serious only when the police are by, and death at the hands
of him they seek to kill is no more than an every-day risk of
their employment.
"Here's the house," whispered Bauer, stopping at the door. "Now,
I'll knock, and you stand by to knock him on the head if he runs
out. He's got a six-shooter, so lose no time.
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