sed him a
helping hand. It did not occur to these men that Bill kept away to
avoid their cross-questionings. It only seemed to them that his new
toy had a greater fascination for him than those things which made for
the welfare of the community; that his inexperienced eyes were blinded
to the facts which were patent enough to them: namely, that he had
bought the most worthless property in the district.

So they laughed, behind his back, and shrugged their great shoulders
pityingly, and their pity was also touched with resentment that his
interest in Suffering Creek could be so easily diverted. It was Joe
Brand who handed them a most excellent laugh on the subject, though
the laugh was rather _at_ than _with_ him.

He was talking to Van and White and several other men at one of the
tables in the store. Whisky had brightened his eyes, which had been
quietly smiling for some time as the talk of Bill went round. Then he
suddenly bent forward and arrested the general attention.

"Say, boys," he cried, "here's a good one for you. What's the
diff'rence between Wild Bill and Minky?"

Van promptly guffawed.

"Gee!" he cried, "ther' ain't none. They're sure both 'bug.'"

A great laugh greeted the retort, but Joe shook his head.

"That sure ain't the answer, but it's real bright," he admitted
reluctantly, while Van preened himself.

"Guess they're both that wise they don't know if they're comin' down
or goin' up," he went on, seeking to add to the score he felt he had
made.

But Joe felt he was being robbed of the fruits of his effort, and
promptly insisted upon his riddle.

"What's the diff'rence between Wild Bill an' Minky?" he asked again,
this time with added emphasis.

He waited impatiently until one of the men shook his head, when he
snatched at the opportunity of firing his quip.

"Why," he cried, with a shout of delight, "Bill's put his gold into a
mudbank, an' Minky's jest yearnin' to set his gold into any old bank,"
and fell back laughing furiously.

But he had his merriment to himself. Van, feeling he had the company
with him, sneered.

"Gee! that's the worst ever," he cried witheringly.

White spat out a chew of tobacco.

"I'd say you're that bright you'd orter write comic Bible trac's," he
declared.

But even in his failure as a humorist Joe Brand gave expression to the
general opinion of the two men who, up till that time, had been
accounted, to use a local expression, the "wisest guys west o'