ands," he said at last. "Pretty? I guess yes. Lemme give
you the totals. You an' me has right now in our possession exactly nine
hundred an' seventy-three eggs. They cost us exactly two thousand, seven
hundred an' sixty dollars, reckonin' dust at sixteen an ounce an' not
countin' time. An' now listen to me. If we stick up Wild Water for
ten dollars a egg we stand to win, clean net an' all to the good, just
exactly six thousand nine hundred and seventy dollars. Now that's a
book-makin' what is, if anybody should ride up on a dog-sled an' ask
you. An' I'm in half on it! Put her there, Smoke. I'm that thankful
I'm sure droolin' gratitude. Book-makin'! Say, I'd sooner run with the
chicks than the ponies any day."

At eleven that night Smoke was routed from sound sleep by Shorty,
whose fur parka exhaled an atmosphere of keen frost and whose hand was
extremely cold in its contact with Smoke's cheek.

"What is it now?" Smoke grumbled. "Rest of Sally's hair fallen out?"

"Nope. But I just had to tell you the good news. I seen Slavovitch. Or
Slavovitch seen me, I guess, because he started the seance. He says to
me: 'Shorty, I want to speak to you about them eggs. I've kept it quiet.
Nobody knows I sold 'em to you. But if you're speculatin', I can put you
wise to a good thing.' An' he did, too, Smoke. Now what'd you guess that
good thing is?"

"Go on. Name it."

"Well, maybe it sounds incredible, but that good thing was Wild Water
Charley. He's lookin' to buy eggs. He goes around to Slavovitch an'
offers him five dollars an egg, an' before he quits he's offerin'
eight. An' Slavovitch ain't got no eggs. Last thing Wild Water says to
Slavovitch is that he'll beat the head offen him if he ever finds out
Slavovitch has eggs cached away somewheres. Slavovitch had to tell 'm
he'd sold the eggs, but that the buyer was secret.

"Slavovitch says to let him say the word to Wild Water who's got the
eggs. 'Shorty,' he says to me, 'Wild Water'll come a-runnin'. You can
hold him up for eight dollars.' 'Eight dollars, your grandmother,' I
says. 'He'll fall for ten before I'm done with him.' Anyway, I told
Slavovitch I'd think it over and let him know in the mornin'. Of course
we'll let 'm pass the word on to Wild Water. Am I right?"

"You certainly are, Shorty. First thing in the morning tip off
Slavovitch. Have him tell Wild Water that you and I are partners in the
deal."

Five minutes later Smoke was again aroused by Shorty.

"Say!