that had taken place, and while his
sympathy had gone completely with Shock and against Macfarren, he had
not been quite able to shake off the feeling of humiliation under which
he suffered.

"Say, stranger," he said, touching Shock on the shoulder, and speaking
in a low and almost respectful tone, "there aint a man in the
Territories has ever put the dust onto Ike Iveson's pants. Here's
twenty-five dollars," diving deep into his hip pocket and pulling out a
plug of tobacco, a knife, and a roll of bills, "which is a standin'
offer to any man who can circumvent that there trick. And I want to
say," he continued, with a subdued eagerness in his tone, "I'll make it
fifty if you do it agin."

Ike's tone was persuasive. There was nothing of resentment in it. It
was the tone of a man who had come upon an interesting and puzzling
experience, and was anxious to investigate.

"No," said Shock, backing away from Ike, "I cannot take that. Besides,
it was not a fair throw."

"Well," said Ike, much mollified, "that's so, that's so. And I consider
it something handsome in you sayin' so. But that offer stands."

"All right," said Shock, smiling a little more broadly. "I'll remember.
And when I want fifty dollars very badly I may come to you. But," he
added, looking Ike up and down, "I'll have to be pretty hard pushed
before I try."

"It's a bargain, stranger," said Ikey, offering a languid hand. Shock
grasped it warmly. A slight tremour ran over Ike's lanky frame as
Shock's hand closed on his.

"Je--roo--sa--lem!" he ejaculated, drawing in his breath, as Shock
turned away. "I'll be ready fer you next time. I prefer a grizzly
myself." He looked down at his finger nails. "Didn't expect to see 'em
on," he observed. "And say, boys," turning to the crowd, "I surmise
he's a preacher, a blank fire-escape."

At once Ike became the object of various comments. "--A preacher, Ike?
Say, you'll have to change your ways and go to meetin'."

"What's Ikey's church, anyway?"

"Don't know as I ever heard."

"Oh, Ikey aint mean, he treats 'em all the same."

"Well, I guess Ikey'll have to dust toward the skyline."

Ike listened for a time unmoved, and then drawled out quietly, "What I
want to remark to you jay birds is, that if ever you have any
misunderstandin' with that there ascension ladder, he'll make you say
more prayers in a minute than you've said for the last ten years of
your mortal life. And if ever he gits after you the only