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"Mother of God, what is it then? magic?" "No, only base metal." But here, Concho, emboldened by Wiles's experiment, attempted to seize a handful of the glistening mass, that instantly broke through his fingers in a thousand tiny spherules, and even sent a few globules up his shirt sleeves, until he danced around in mingled fear and childish pleasure.
And then two black figures were outlined on the crags beyond. "St-t-t!" whispered a voice. "There is one lying beside the furnace." The speech was Spanish, but the voice was Wiles's. The other figure crept cautiously to the edge of the crag and looked over. "It is Concho, the imbecile," said Pedro, contemptuously. "But if he should not be alone, or if he should waken?" "I will watch and wait.
"And it is not worth the taking?" queried Pedro of Wiles. Wiles's right eye and bland face were turned toward the speaker, but his malevolent left was glancing at the dull red-brown rock on the hill side. "No!" and turning abruptly away, he proceeded to saddle his mule.
You need not mention my name to this-er this Mr. Wiles." And with one eye on the door, and an awkward dash of his lips at the lady's fingers, he withdrew. There was no introductory formula to Mr. Wiles's interview. He dashed at once in medias res. "Gashwiler knows a woman that, he says, can help us against that Spanish girl who is coming here with proofs, prettiness, fascination, and what not!
Gashwiler tried hard to look as if he were trying to recall the meaning of Wiles's words. "Oh! ah! umph! let me see, oh, yes, the certificates, certainly! Of course you will make them out in the name of my secretary, Mr. Expectant Dobbs. They will perhaps repay him for the extra clerical labor required in the prosecution of your claim. He is a worthy young man.
Concho shouted with joy; the rest gazed at each other doubtingly and distrustfully; companions in poverty, they began to diverge and suspect each other in prosperity. Wiles's left eye glanced ironically from the one to the other.
Meeting that baleful glance once, Pedro growled out an oath, but could not resist a hideous fascination that caused him again and again to seek it. The scene was weird enough without Wiles's eye to add to its wild picturesqueness.
Wiles's discomfiture, he still had enough experience of character to know that the irate member from Fresno would be satisfied with his own peculiar manner of vindicating his own personal integrity, and would not make a public scandal of it. Again, Wiles was convinced that Dobbs was equally implicated with Gashwiler, and would be silent for his own sake.
Wiles's functions as an advocate did not include murder; at least, he was doubtful if it could be taxed as costs. "We need have no fears, sir," resumed Mr. Gashwiler; "The matter is now in the hands of the highest tribunal of appeal in the country. It will meet, sir, with inflexible justice. I have already prepared some remarks "
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