to Indianapolis, and at the
end of ten days all was ready for the money to be delivered. Dic again
asked for Rita, and Mr. Bays was for delivering the girl at once. His
new venture at Indianapolis had stimulated his sense of self-importance,
and he insisted, with a temerity never before dared, that Dic, whom he
truly loved, should have the daughter whom they each loved. But the
Chief Justice would agree to nothing more than an extension of the
armistice, and graciously consented that Dic might visit the _family_ at
Indianapolis once in a while.

After Dic had agreed to lend the money, he at once notified Billy
Little, in whose strong-box it was stored. Dic, in the course of their
conversation, expressed to Billy the sense of obligation he felt to the
Bayses.

"I declare," vowed Billy, "that old woman is truly great. When she goes
to heaven, she will convince St. Peter that she is doing him a favor by
entering the pearly gates. Neither will she go in unless everything
suits her. There is not another like her. Archimedes said he could lift
the world with a lever if he had a fulcrum. Undiluted egotism is the
fulcrum. But one must actually believe in one's self to be effective.
One cannot impose a sham self-faith upon the world. Only the man who
believes his own lie can lie convincingly. Egad! Dic, it would have been
beautiful to see that self-sufficient old harridan attempting to
convince you that she was conferring a favor by taking your money. You
will probably never see a fippenny bit of it again. And without
interest! Jove! I say it was beautiful. Had she wanted your liver, I
suppose you would have thanked her for accepting it. She is a wonder."

These remarks opened Dic's eyes and convinced him that the New York trip
had not effaced all traces of unsophistication.

In those days of weak strong-boxes and numerous box-breakers, men
hesitated to assume the responsibility of taking another's gold for
safe-keeping. There could be no profit to Billy Little in Dic's gold. He
took it to keep for him only because he loved him. The sum total of
Billy's wealth, aside from his stock of goods valued at a thousand
dollars, consisted of notes, secured by mortgages, amounting to four
thousand dollars. Of this sum he had lent five hundred dollars to Dic,
who had repaid him in gold. The money had been placed in Billy Little's
strong-box with Dic's twenty-six hundred dollars. Each sum of gold was
contained in a canvas shot-bag. Of