n 'em to
Ugly if he made a quick git-away. Ike did as d'rected. Ugly come en
got the wagon this atternoon. Promised that he'd load tonight en be on
the road by midnight.

"Well! That settled the coffee! I didn't keer to hang eround eny more.
But I did want a whit more information. Did Logan know that old Hulls
en Maizie were included? 'Naw,' scorned Ike, 'Logan didn't even know
that Ugly knew 'em--didn't know that Ugly had ever been at the Bar-O.
Logan didn't know about the wagon. Thought the forty was about right
for train fare. He jist wanted Ugly out of the country en I got hit
done,' says Ike.

"I didn't keer to meet Logan--then. I remembered that I had some boots
at Billy's fer half solin', en I slipped Ike a five spot with the
caution that he was to say nothin' in his report to Logan about who
was in Ugly's party. Ike wanted me to stay en listen to his ideas as
to why Logan wanted a quick move by Ugly, but I already had my notions
about that. I slipped away fast. But in comin' here I remembered that
I hadn't left eny boots with Billy."

Landy finished his steak and story about the same time.

"Well, do you think they will get away tonight?" asked Davy eagerly.
"Is there any way that we can hang around and find out? Why would
Logan want this Ugly party to get out of the country? Why can't we--"

"Thar ye go! Crowdin' the question-chute. Son, ye orta number 'em, en
I could answer by number. Anyhow, let's git goin'! Hit's a long ways
home--with a change of cars at the B-line, en the last lap ain't fit
fer night ridin'. We can talk while we ride. Out thar, Jode won't be
hangin' around, shufflin' the dishes en tryin' to get an earful. Let's
go."

On the way home, Adine Lough was the happy one of the trio. The
revealing incidents of the day had cleared away the threatening dark
financial cloud. Now if her father could only be brought home with the
assurance of his getting well, her cup of happiness would be
overflowing. Just now, she was planning an added chapter to her
thesis, "Welfare Work in Rural Communities." She would touch on the
subject of "Aid from Unexpected Sources," for she had experienced just
that! In the events of the day, it was revealed that a little, unknown
midget of a man, with a doubtful background, was indeed a man,
mentally, morally, and financially. Back of his cynicism--often
expressed in the jargon of the underworld--was an alert mind that
could lead an inquisitor into a maze of unaccom