humouredly.

"Theory of the sleuths," Jim read. "Thieves must have known--cleverly kept
watch on Bujannoff's actions--must have learned his plan and trailed him to
his house with the fruits of his robbery--"

"Clever--hell!" Matt broke out. "That's the way reputations is made . . .
in the noospapers. How'd we know he was robbin' his pardner?"

"Anyway, we've got the goods," Jim grinned. "Let's look at 'em again."

He assured himself that the door was locked and bolted, while Matt brought
out the bundle in the bandanna and opened it on the table.

"Ain't they beauties, though!" Jim exclaimed at sight of the pearls; and
for a time he had eyes only for them. "Accordin' to the experts, worth
from fifty to seventy thousan' dollars."

"An' women like them things," Matt commented. "An' they'll do everything
to get 'em--sell themselves, commit murder, anything."

"Just like you an' me."

"Not on your life," Matt retorted. "I'll commit murder for 'em, but not
for their own sakes, but for sake of what they'll get me. That's the
difference. Women want the jools for themselves, an' I want the jools for
the women an' such things they'll get me."

"Lucky that men an' women don't want the same things," Jim remarked.