ntured only a little into
conversation.

"Phil,--do you know I'm heart sick of playing the darned idiot. I've a
good mind to start work."

"Jee-rusalem! You don't say!" exclaimed his astounded friend.

"Honest to goodness! Man, I wish, though, that I could beat Dalton to
it on that deal."

"I wish you could too, for he is bragging all over the town how he put
one over on you, and that you're on the loose somewhere, worse than
ever, too shamefaced to show up in your own town."

By way of answer, Jim twisted his gaunt face in an enigmatical smile.

"It's a good ranch!" continued Phil.

"Of course it is! That is why I'd give my head to fool him on it."

"Well!--I've a thousand bucks and one dollar in the Commercial Bank,
and I'm willing to go halves if you can raise the balance."

Jim started up excitedly, but he subsided almost as quickly. He
pulled out the linings of his pockets and with them came a little roll
of bills.

"One hundred and sixteen dollars!" he said ruefully. "I've counted
them one hundred and sixteen times, backwards, forwards and upside
down, these last three days, and I can't get them to grow a dollar
more."

"Won't somebody stand good for you?"

"Somebody might,--but I am not borrowing. That is one thing Jim
Langford never did in his life and he is not going to start in now
with it to help him out of a tom-fool boozing stunt he never should
have got into. I don't mind your money so much, Phil, for it would be
a partnership affair between two pals, but I am not crawling all over
town begging for loans, especially after Dalton has had his say.
No,--it's no good!"

At noon next day, Jim was still in the doldrums.

Phil rushed in all excitement.

"What do you know about that fool Hannington? The town is ablaze with
red posters now, and he is offering a thousand dollars reward, for one
day only--like a bargain sale--to anyone who will lay information that
will lead to the conviction of the horse painter."

Jim laid down his book, put his pipe out by smothering it with his
little finger, then got up and went to the clothes closet. He took
down his hat and jacket.

"What's up now?" asked Phil.

"I'm after that thousand, sonny!"

"What?"

"I saw Hannington's horse painted. I know who did it and I'm going to
lay information."

Phil gaped.

As Jim was proceeding outside, Phil ran after him and laid hold on his
arm.

"Wait a bit, old man! Let me get this right," he said slowly. "D