appear before His Honor later to-day for the formal dismissal
of the case. Take him away! If you can possibly do so, ship him out of
town at once."

Francis Charles winked at Peter as they went down the steps.

"So it was you last night?" said Peter. "Thanks to you. I'll do as much
for you sometime."

"Thank us both. This is my friend Sedgwick, who was to have been our
chauffeur." The two gentlemen bowed, grinning joyfully. "My name's
Boland, and I'm to be your first stockholder. Miss Selden told me about
you--which is my certificate of character. Come over to the hotel and see
Old McClintock. Miss Selden is there too. She bawled him out about Nephew
Stan last night. Regular old-fashioned wigging! And now she has the old
gentleman eating from her hand. Say, how about this Stanley thing,
anyway? Any good?"

"Son," said Pete, "Stanley is a regular person."

Boland's face clouded.

"Well, I'm going out with you and have a good look at him," he said
gloomily. "If I'm not satisfied with him, I'll refuse my consent. And
I'll look at your mine--if you've got any mine. They used to say that
when a man drinks of the waters of the Hassayampa, he can never tell the
truth again. And you're from Arizona."

Pete stole a shrewd look at the young man's face.

"There is another old saying about the Hassayampa, son," he said kindly,
"with even more truth to it than in that old _dicho_. They say that
whoever drinks of the waters of the Hassayampa must come to drink again."

He bent his brows at Francis Charles.

"Good guess," admitted Boland, answering the look. "I've never been to
Arizona, but I've sampled the Pecos and the Rio Grande; and I must go
back 'Where the flyin'-fishes play on the road to Mandalay, where the
dawn comes up like thunder'--Oh, gee! That's my real reason. I suppose
that silly girl and your picturesque pardner will marry, anyhow, even if
I disapprove--precious pair they'll make! And if I take a squint at the
copper proposition, it will be mostly in Ferdie's interest--Ferdie is the
capitalist, comparatively speaking; but he can't tear himself away from
little old N'Yawk. This is his first trip West--here in Vesper. Myself,
I've got only two coppers to clink together--or maybe three. We're rather
overlooking Ferdie, don't you think? Mustn't do that. Might withdraw his
backin'. Ferdie, speak up pretty for the gennulmun!"

"Oh, don't mind me, Mr. Johnson," said Sedgwick cheerfully. "I'm used to
hearin' Bola