s for
'em 'way back fifteen years. Guess they's a dollar's worth worn off of
'em by now."

"Well, you sure do some close figurin'. I sure paid ten for 'em. Got
'em from a Chola puncher what was hard up. Mebby you ain't figurin'
that they's about twenty bucks' worth of hand-worked silver conchas on
'em which ain't wore off any."

Sundown took this as Wingle's final word. The amused Hi noted the
other's disappointment and determined to enhance the value of the chaps
by making them difficult to obtain, then give them to his assistant.
Wingle liked Sundown in a rough-shod way, though Sundown was a bit too
serious-minded to appreciate the fact.

The cook assumed the air of one gravely concerned about his friend's
mental balance. "Somethin' sure crawled into your roost, Sun, but if
you're goin' crazy I suppose a pair of chaps won't make no difference
either way. Anyhow, you ain't crazy in your legs--just your head."

"Thanks, Hi. It's accommodatin' of you to put me wise to myself. I
know I ain't so durned smart as some."

"Say, you old fool, can't you take a fall to it that I'm joshin'? You
sure are the melancholiest stretch of bones and hide I ever seen.
Somehow you always make a fella come down to cases every time, with
that sad-lookin' mug of yourn. You sure would 'a' made a good
undertaker. I'll get them chaps."

And Wingle, fat, bald, and deliberate, chuckled as he dug among his
belongings and brought forth the coveted riding apparel. "Them chaps
has set on some good hosses, if I do say it," he remarked. "Take 'em
and keep your nine bucks for life insurance. You'll need it."

Sundown grinned like a boy. "Nope. A bargain's a bargain. Here's the
money. Mebby you could buy a fust-class cook-book with it and learn
somethin'."

"Learn somethin'! Why, you long-geared, double-jointed, glass-eyed,
hay-topped, star-smellin' st-st-steeple, you! Get out o' this afore I
break my neck tryin' to see your face! Set down so I can look you in
the eye!" And Wingle waved his stout arms and glowered in mock anger.

Sundown laid the money on the table. "Keep the change," he said mildly
with a twinkle in his eye.

He picked up the chaps and stalked from the bunk-house. Chance, who
had been an interested spectator of this lively exchange of compliment
and merchandise, followed his master to the stable where Sundown at
once put on the chaps and strutted for the dog's benefit, and his own.
By degrees he was