t moment. But as he received no answer to
his challenge he turned to Sandy.

"Ther' don't seem to be nuthin' doin'," he said, with a grim smile.
"So ef you'll come right along we'll fix things out in the store.
Guess you ken finish your hash after."

Sandy rose. For a moment Bill did not attempt to move. It was as
though he were giving the rest of the boarders one last chance of
accepting his challenge. But as no one offered any comment or made any
attempt to stay him, he turned away at last with a sigh which was
probably of disappointment, and led the way out into the store.

But if the men had made no comment in his presence, it was a different
matter after his departure. Loud indignation broke out, and fierce, if
impotent, protest passed from lip to lip. It was only for a few
moments, however, and presently anger gave place to a realization of
the absurdity of the whole thing.

The humor of these men was tickled. The whole thing was too ludicrous
for words. To think that Wild Bill, the renowned sharp, the shrewdest,
the wisest man on Suffering Creek, had fallen for such a proposition!
It was certainly the funniest, the best joke that had ever come their
way. How had it happened? they asked each other. Had Zip been clever
enough to "salt" his claim? It was hardly likely. Only they knew he
was hard up, and it was just possible, with his responsibilities
weighing heavily on him, he had resorted to an illicit practice to
realize on his property. They thought of and discussed every possible
means they could think of by which Bill could have been lured to the
hook--and caught--and landed. That was the joke. It was astounding. It
was too good. To-morrow the whole camp would be ringing with laughter
at the news, but--but the laughter was not likely to reach the
gambler's ears.

In the meantime it was quite a different man who was lounging over
Minky's counter talking to Sandy and the storekeeper. Bill had
relieved the pressure of his mood for the moment, and now, like a
momentarily exhausted volcano, he was enjoying the calm of reaction.

"I'll need you to start work right away," he was saying, "an' you ken
draw on me fer all the supplies you need. It's a dandy claim," he went
on grimly, "but I don't know fer sure what you'll likely find on it.
Maybe you'll find suthin'--if you work long enough. Anyways, you'll
start by sinkin' a shaft; an' you'll kep on sinkin' it till--till I
tell you to quit."

"But that ain't th