He spilled them out in a blazing stream on the greasy
table. Jim let out a great oath.
"That's nothing," Matt said with triumphant complacence. "I ain't begun
yet."
From one pocket after another he continued bringing forth the spoil.
There were many diamonds wrapped in chamois skin that were larger than
those in the first handful. From one pocket he brought out a handful of
very small cut gems.
"Sun dust," he remarked, as he spilled them on the table in a space by
themselves.
Jim examined them.
"Just the same, they retail for a couple of dollars each," he said. "Is
that all?"
"Ain't it enough?" the other demanded in an aggrieved tone.
"Sure it is," Jim answered with unqualified approval. "Better'n I
expected. I wouldn't take a cent less than ten thousan' for the bunch."
"Ten thousan'," Matt sneered. "They're worth twic't that, an' I don't
know anything about joolery, either. Look at that big boy!"
He picked it out from the sparkling heap and held it near to the lamp
with the air of an expert, weighing and judging.
"Worth a thousan' all by its lonely," was Jim's quicker judgment.
"A thousan' your grandmother," was Matt's scornful rejoinder.
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