suppose you think you're going to get me roiled, you old fool! You've
got another guess, then. You can't get my nanny! But I do think you might
tell me what's been going on. Even a guilty man has his curiosity. Did
you get the money I left for you?"

Pete's jaw sagged; his eye expressed foggy bewilderment.

"Money? What money? I thought they got it all when they arrested you?"

"Oh, don't be a gloomy ass! The money I left with Old Man Taylor; the
money you got down here for preliminary expenses on the mine."

"Mine?" echoed Pete blankly. "What mine?"

"Old stuff!" Stanley laughed aloud. "Go to it, old-timer! You can't faze
me. When you get good and ready to ring off, let me know."

"Well, then," said Pete, "I will. Here we go, fresh. And you may not be
just the best-pleased with my plan at first, son. I'm not going to bail
you out."

"What the hell!" said Stan. "Why not?"

"I've thought it all out," said Pete, "and I've talked it over with the
sheriff. He's agreed. You have to meet the action of the Grand Jury,
anyhow; you couldn't leave the county; and you're better off in jail
while I go back to New York to rustle money."

"Oh--you're going, are you?"

"To-night. You couldn't leave the county even if you were out on bond.
The sheriff's a square man; he'll treat you right; you'll have a chance
to get shut of that insomnia, and right here's the safest place in Pima
County for you. I want a letter to that cousin of yours in Abingdon."

"'Tisn't Abingdon--it's Vesper. And I'm not particularly anxious to tell
him that I'm in jail on a felony charge."

"Don't want you to tell him--or anybody. I suppose you've told your girl
already? Yes? Thought so. Well, don't you tell any one else. You tell
Cousin Oscar I'm your pardner, and all right; and that you've got a mine,
and you'll guarantee the expenses for him and an expert in case they're
not satisfied upon investigation. I'll do the rest. And don't you let
anybody bail you out of jail. You stay here."

"If I hadn't seen you perform a miracle or two before now, I'd see you
damned first!" said Stan. "But I suppose you know what you're about. It's
more than I do. Make it a quick one, will you? I find myself bored here."

"I will. Let me outline two of the many possibilities: If I don't bail
you out, I'm doin' you dirt, ain't I? Well, then, if Zurich & Gang think
I'm double-crossin' you they'll make me a proposition to throw in with
them and throw you down on the c