care a damn for Colonel Mayor Longstreth. And for cause
I'd throw a gun on him just as quick as on any rustler in Pecos."

"Talk's cheap," replied Laramie, making light of his bluster, but the
red was deeper in his face.

"Sure. I know that," Duane said. "And usually I don't talk. Then it's
not well known that Longstreth owns the Hope So?"

"Reckon it's known in Pecos, all right. But Longstreth's name isn't
connected with the Hope So. Blandy runs the place."

"That Blandy. His faro game's crooked, or I'm a locoed bronch. Not that
we don't have lots of crooked faro-dealers. A fellow can stand for them.
But Blandy's mean, back-handed, never looks you in the eyes. That Hope
So place ought to be run by a good fellow like you, Laramie."

"Thanks," replied he; and Duane imagined his voice a little husky.
"Didn't you hear I used to run it?"

"No. Did you?" Duane said, quickly.

"I reckon. I built the place, made additions twice, owned it for eleven
years."

"Well, I'll be doggoned." It was indeed Duane's turn to be surprised,
and with the surprise came a glimmering. "I'm sorry you're not there
now. Did you sell out?"

"No. Just lost the place."

Laramie was bursting for relief now--to talk, to tell. Sympathy had made
him soft.

"It was two years ago-two years last March," he went on. "I was in a big
cattle deal with Longstreth. We got the stock--an' my share, eighteen
hundred head, was rustled off. I owed Longstreth. He pressed me. It come
to a lawsuit--an' I--was ruined."

It hurt Duane to look at Laramie. He was white, and tears rolled down
his cheeks. Duane saw the bitterness, the defeat, the agony of the
man. He had failed to meet his obligations; nevertheless, he had been
swindled. All that he suppressed, all that would have been passion had
the man's spirit not been broken, lay bare for Duane to see. He had now
the secret of his bitterness. But the reason he did not openly accuse
Longstreth, the secret of his reticence and fear--these Duane thought
best to try to learn at some later time.

"Hard luck! It certainly was tough," Duane said. "But you're a good
loser. And the wheel turns! Now, Laramie, here's what. I need your
advice. I've got a little money. But before I lose it I want to invest
some. Buy some stock, or buy an interest in some rancher's herd. What I
want you to steer me on is a good square rancher. Or maybe a couple of
ranchers, if there happen to be two honest ones. Ha, ha! No deals with
ra