Chapter 35
Hidden with his men behind a pile of debris set back from the mine, Henry Toole lifted a hand to his mouth and stifled his giggle.
The fools!
He had them right where he wanted them.
It was a little uncanny seeing them sneak up there, meaning to kill him, especially the tall one, who looked just like his brother. It was like the man they’d hung had come back to life to have his revenge.
But Henry shook that off and readied the bundle of dynamite he’d had stowed in the old mine. Back when he’d hidden it here, he’d figured it would come in handy someday. And now here he was. And here it was, right when he needed it.
See that was the difference between him and everybody else. He was smart. They were dumb.
“Ready, Dog?” he said after his would-be killers disappeared into the mine.
The idiot nodded.
Seeing the man’s stupid face, Henry was tempted to run down there and do the job himself, but it wasn’t worth the risk. Because dynamite didn’t give second chances.
“Run down there and toss it in nice and deep,” Henry said.
Duncan and Turpin just sat there with their guns drawn, looking almost as stupid as Dog.
When Henry’s plan succeeded, and Sullivan and Sheffield were dead, it would buy him some time to figure out what to do with his so-called gang.
This would remind them that he was the brains of the outfit, the leader.
He would have their respect again. At least for a while, long enough to figure out what to do with them.
He struck the match and lit the fuse then handed it to Dog.
Dog just stood there, gripping the dynamite and gaping at the sparking fuses, mesmerized.
Henry kicked him in the butt and shook him out of it. “Go, dummy!”
Dog seemed to realize what was going on. He gave a little jump then ran out from behind the pile, holding the dynamite out in front of him with straight arms, like he was afraid of the sparks.
He ran awkwardly, hitching one leg a little and giving a little hop every time he pushed off the other foot. He looked ridiculous, especially with the dynamite stuck out in front of him like it was.
Meanwhile, he was taking too long. Those were short fuses.
Henry watched with amusement, wondering if Dog would make it in time.
He hoped the trap worked. Otherwise, they would have to shoot it out. At the same time, it sure would be funny to see Dog get blown to bits.
But as amusing as that would have been, it didn’t happen, because Dog tossed the dynamite into the mouth of the mine and threw himself to one side.