bank. Briskow drew a
deep breath and said, with genuine relief: "I'm glad _that's_ over. We
can handle the debt between us, an', after all, Old Bell's a pretty
good citizen. As for Henry, I s'pose he'll wiggle out of it, somehow. I
dunno as I'd of been so easy on him if I'd been in your place."

"I'll tell you why I was easy on him," Gray confessed. "I'm tired of
fighting; I'm worn out. I've won my point, and he'll carry the sort of
load I've been carrying. But there is this difference: for him there
will be no vindication at the end." Taking from his pocket Nelson's
statement, he stared at it, then slowly his face lightened. "I was
blind mad at first. I felt as if I couldn't keep my hands off him. It
was such a dirty trick he did me and so reasonless! He had no excuse
whatever for injuring me, Gus. However, I suppose most quarrels sprout
from tiny seeds. Well, I'm square with the game! I--I'm afraid, even
yet, that it's all a dream. I've wanted to yell--" The speaker
chuckled; the chuckle grew to a laugh. "There's magic in this document,
Gus, old boy. I've grown young all at once."

"You needn't of took it so hard. Us fellers would have stood by you if
you'd turned out to be a horse thief. Texas men are like that."

"You proved it. But that wasn't enough. A man's business associates
will frequently overlook a lot more than their wives and daughters will
overlook. There's a certain loyalty that doesn't apply outside of the
office." Gray rose and filled his lungs. "D'you know why I felt this
thing so keenly? Why I fought so long? Of course you don't, for I've
held out on you. Fact! I've held out on my partner--had a secret from
him. Now then, steel yourself for a surprise. I'm suffering from
Buddy's complaint, only ten times aggravated!"

"What?" Briskow stared up at the animated countenance above him. "You
thinkin' about gettin' _married_?"

"I'm thinking about nothing else. That's what ails me. Why, Gus, you've
no idea what a perfectly charming person I can be when--when I can be
what I am. I thought I was too old and too blase ever to become
seriously interested in a woman, above all in a girl, but--Do you
remember when Ma and Allie came to Dallas that first time? Something
happened about then to upset all my ideas."

Briskow's sun-parched face slowly lightened, his bright, inquisitive
eyes grew bluer, brighter. "I'm--mighty glad! I allus hoped--" He tried
to finish his sentence, then shook his head and murmured