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"I believe you," said the girl "It is not easy to deceive Giova Now I tell you This here," she pointed toward the dead ht; but always good to Giova Good to no one else but Beppo He afraid Beppo Even our people drive us out he, my father, so bad man We wander 'round country mak leetle money when Beppo dance; o las' night look for hio there I find heem dead He have fits, six, seven year He die fit Beppo stay guard heee man Beppo come too I bury heeo ith Beppo Why tell people he dead Who care? Mak lot trouble for Giova whose heart already ache plenty No one love heem, only Beppo and Giova No one love Giova, only Beppo; but soe, strong bear--fierce bear--ogly bear Even Giova who love Beppo is afraid Beppo Beppo devil bear! Beppo got evil eye

"Well," said Bridge, "I guess, Giova, that you and we are in the sa so very bad but it would be e to have to explain to the police e have done," here he glanced at The Oskaloosa Kid and the girl standing beside the youth "Suppose we form a defensive alliance, eh? We'll help you and you help us What do you say?"

"All right," acquiesced Giova; "but e do with this?" and she jerked her thumb toward Willie Case

"If he don't behave we'll feed hie

Willie shook in his boots, figuratively speaking, for in reality he shook upon his bare feet "Leo," he wailed, "an' I won't tell nobody nothin'"

"No," said Bridge, "you don't go until we're safely out of here I wouldn't trust that vanishing chin of yours as far as I could throw Beppo by the tail"

"Wait!" exclaimed The Oskaloosa Kid "I have it!"

"What have you?" asked Bridge

"Listen!" cried the boy excitedly "This boy has been offered a hundred dollars for infor to the arrest and conviction of the ive hi about us"