s own,
thanks to the hint given us by our friend, Peter, as to the deposit at
the head of Big Reuben's gorge.

Knowing all this, Yetmore had no doubt that Tom would be starting out
the moment the foot-hills were bare, and as Long John could do no
more--for it was obviously useless to start before the ground was
clear--it would result in a race between the two as to who should get
out first and keep ahead of the other; in which case Tom's chances would
be at least equal to his competitor's.

But was there no way by which Tom Connor might be delayed in starting,
if only for a day or two? That was the question; and very earnestly it
was discussed between the pair.

Vain, however, were their discussions; they could think of no way of
keeping Tom in town. For, though Long John threw out occasional hints as
to how _he_ would manage it, if his employer would only give him leave,
his schemes always suggested the use of unlawful means of one sort or
another, and Yetmore would have none of them; for he had at least
sufficient respect for the law to be afraid of it.

A gleam of hope appeared when it was rumored about town that Tom Connor
was trying to raise money on his house; a rumor which Yetmore very
quickly took pains to verify. In this he had no trouble whatever, for
everybody knew the circumstances, and everybody, Yetmore found, was loud
in his praises of Tom's self-sacrifice in spending his hard-earned
savings for the benefit of Mrs. Murphy and her distressed family.

The fact that his rival was out of funds caused Yetmore to rub his hands
with glee. Here, indeed, was a possible chance to keep him tied up in
town. It all depended upon his being able to prevent Tom from securing
the loan he sought, and diligently did the storekeeper canvass one plan
after another in his own mind--but still in vain. The sum desired was so
moderate that some one would almost surely be found to advance it.

While his schemes were still fermenting in his head, there came late one
night a knock at his door--it was the very night that Tom Connor went
boring for oil--and Long John Butterfield slipped into the house.
Long John, too, had heard of Tom's necessities; he, too, had perceived
the value of the opportunity; and being untrammeled by any respect for
law as long as there was little likelihood that the law would find him
out, he had devised in his own mind a plan which would promptly and
effectually prevent Tom from raising any money on h