th she
was explaining what was wanted of the bank.

"They've done it before, and ye know it's plain thievery and ought to be
complained about. So now get your wits to work, Jimmy, for this friend
of mine is entitled to his money and should have it if it is there to be
had."

"Oh, it's there," said Jimmy. He looked at his watch, looked at the
kitchen clock, looked at Bud and winked. "We open at nine, in this
town," he said. "It lacks half an hour--but let me see those checks."

Very relievedly Bud produced them, watched the cashier scan each one to
make sure that they were right, and quaked when Jimmy scowled at Jeff
Hall's signature on the largest check of all. "He had a notion to use
the wrong signature, but he may have lost his nerve. It's all right, Mr.
Birnie. Just endorse these, and I'll take them into the bank and attend
to them the first thing I do after the door is open. You'd better come
in when I open up--"

"The gang had some talk about cleaning out the bank while they 're about
it," Bud remembered suddenly. "Can't you appoint me something, or hire
me as a guard and let me help out? How many men do you have here in this
bank?"

"Two, except when the president's in his office in the rear. That's fine
of you to offer. We've been held up, once--and they cleaned us out of
cash." Jimmy turned to Mrs. Hanson. "Mother, can't you run over and
have Jess come and swear Mr. Birnie in as a deputy? If I go, or he goes,
someone may notice it and tip the gang off."

Mrs. Hanson hastily deposited the baby in its cradle and went to call
"Jess", her face pink with excitement.

"You're lucky you stopped at her house instead of some other place,"
Jimmy observed. "She's a corking good woman. As a deputy sheriff, you'll
come in mighty handy if they do try anything, Mr. Birnie--if you're the
kind of a man you look to be. I'll bet you can shoot. Can you?"

"If you scare me badly enough, I might get a cramp in my trigger
finger," Bud confessed. Jimmy grinned and went back to considering his
own part.

"I'll cash these checks for you the first thing I do. And as deputy you
can go with me. I'll have to unlock the door on time, and if they mean
to stop payment, and clean the bank too, it will probably be done all
at once. It has been a year since they bothered us, so they may need a
little change. If Jess isn't busy he may stick around."

"No one expects him to round up the gang, I heard."

"No one expects him to go into C