randfather Laughton, my child, and since I came here I
have heard-of you," he finished, with innate delicacy. Indeed, who had
not heard her story?

She opened her silken reticule and drew forth a small, buckskin bag.
"Will you not accept it? Yesterday, at the claims, I panned it out
myself. I am sorry for your plight. I am sorry for anyone in the
clutches of Slick-heels Saul."

"But--. Can you--?"

"It does not matter. Your extremity is greater than mine."

He stood looking after the slim girl who carried her head so high. "How
like a Kentucky Laughton. Thoroughbred stock, all!" He tossed the bag
in his hand. "'Tis why they are where they are today." Then his keen old
eyes softened. "And why they are what they are, today. Bless her tender
heart to stoop to an old cattle man in the mire. As for this--I must see
Irish Mike," and he hurried off with surprising speed.

Bets rose. Every gambler had been apprised of the sure thing and flocked
to the betting like bears to a honey tree.

"Have ye put up ye'r money, Eric?" asked Irish Mike, late the next
night.

"Yes," said Eric, briefly.

"Ah. So." Mike's shrewd gave slid from the young man's face.

"They do say that Slick-heels Saul is beginnin' to worry over
the $20,000 he's staked. The shoestring gang have gathered in the
information fr'm th' express agent that the auld cattle man owns a
big Spanish grant down in the valley, and has $50,00 to his credit in
certificates of deposit from the express company. 'Tis as good as gold."

"Mike, have you ever seen him before?"

"I never spile sport, me boy."

It was the last day of the fiesta and the famous race was at hand.

"There is the old cattle man with his vaqueros."

"Faith, they're a tough lookin' lot, all armed with a brace o' Colts
apiece. 'Tis fun they'd have, cleanin' out a Fandango House."

"Patty, girl, you are pale today."

"Oh, Eric, 'tis the last day of grace. Heaven help us if--"

"See, Patty, gir-r-rl, they're fixin' for the foot race between Cherokee
Bob an' that Australian squirt fr'm Sacramento."

"Why are they placing men with guns every ten feet along the track?"

"The Indian can beat the Australian, but he thried to sell the boys
out, an' if he slackens his gait by ever so little, the b'ys will begin
shootin' sthraight before them. An' maybe afther the race, he'd better
be runnin' right on into the next county."

"What next?"

"Next is a jackass fight, an' then, the race!"

After t