Sam Timeline and Summary

Sam figures that a kidnapping is the ideal way to make some quick cash.
He and Bill kidnap a ten-year-old boy, Johnny.
Johnny's roughhousing results in tears and hurt feelings, mostly from Bill.
Sam negotiates a cold peace between Bill and Johnny, then the two ostensible grown-ups compose their ransom letter.
Sam goes to town to mail their demands to old Dorset, the kid's father, then returns to the cave and waits for Bill and Johnny to return. Bill returns without Johnny, recounting a tale of horror and proud of the fact that he finally got rid of Johnny for good.
Sam asks Bill, "There isn't any heart disease in your family, is there?" (79): Johnny has arrived like a monster in a horror movie, smiling and ready to play some more.
Sam leaves Bill at the mercy of their young "victim" and ventures to the drop point to collect the ransom.
He gets a rather unique counter offer from Old Man Dorset: pay him money to take the boy off their hands.
After consulting with Bill, Sam decides he's been beat and they pay off Ebenezer to return the kid.
They drop off Johnny and run for the hills before Ebenezer changes his mind.