luck finding you, Tim. I rushed down to the saloon, but I was
afraid you had gone home, it is so late."

"And I'm better off than you to have my bill paid. How is it you are in
luck, and paying out money so free?"

"Never mind the money, Tim," De Vere replied nervously. "I want you to
do me a favor. Will you?"

"Will I? Well, I should think I would."

"Will you promise never to mention what I say to any one?"

"I promise."

"It would get us both into trouble if you should, Tim."

"But it ain't nothin' so awful bad, is it, Matthew?" asked Tim, with a
tremor of alarm in his voice.

"I think I can trust you, Tim," replied De Vere, ignoring his
companion's question.

"I know you can, after all you have done for me," replied Tim
gratefully.

De Vere drew young Short close to him as they turned into a dark, narrow
street.

"Tim," said he, in suppressed agitation, "you know those tall oak trees
on the old Booker road?"

"What, them by the cave in the big rock, do you mean?"

"Yes, that's the place."

Young Short commenced to breathe fast with excitement.

"You know, Tim," said De Vere, scarcely above a whisper, "you know the
bushes and rock together furnish a good hiding place."

"I should think they would," responded Tim dubiously.

"We've got some work to do there."

"What, not tonight?"

"Yes, as soon as we can get there, or it will be too late."

"Don't you think it's too late now, Matthew?" suggested Tim.

"I tell you to come along," commanded De Vere in anything but a pleasant
mood.

"You didn't tell me what you are going there for."

"I have good reasons for going there. I want to get square with a
fellow," responded Matthew, with a ring of revenge in his voice.

"But couldn't you do it just as well alone?"

"No, I couldn't."

"Afraid?" queried Tim.

This question did not have a good effect upon Matthew's nerves, but he
was too prudent to fly into a passion with Tim at this time.

"Who is this fellow?" asked young Short doggedly, after a little
silence.

"Fred Worthington," answered De Vere bitterly. "I'll show him that he
can't interfere with me."

"Fred Worthington!" echoed Tim; and he stopped short where he was.

"I think we had better get some good clubs," said De Vere.

"And then we will get the worst of it," replied Tim. "I know Fred
Worthington too well to take any chances on him."

"But we will jump out upon him when he is not expecting us," urged
Matthew.

It was h