I think everybody is,
and the good could be brought forward if someone would take enough
interest in the subject."

"Then you take an interest in me?" said Calumet, grinning scornfully.

"Yes," she said frankly; "to the extent of wondering whether or not
time will vindicate my judgment."

"Then you think I won't blow this coin?" he said, tapping the bills.

"I think you will spend it for the articles on the list I have given
you."

He looked at her and she was certain there was indecision in the glance.

"Well," he said abruptly, turning from her; "mebbe I will an' mebbe I
won't. But whatever I do with it will be done to suit myself. It
won't be done to please you."

He mounted his pony and rode to the far end of the ranchhouse yard.
When he turned in the saddle it was with the conviction that Betty
would be standing there watching him. Somehow, he wished she would.
But she was walking toward the ranchhouse, her back to him, and he made
a grimace of disappointment as he urged his pony out into the valley.

CHAPTER X

NEW ACQUAINTANCES

Calumet had been in no hurry, though maintaining its steady chop-trot
for most of the distance, Blackleg had set him down in Lazette in a
little over two hours.

Something had happened to Calumet. He had carefully considered the
phenomenon all the way over from the Lazy Y; he considered it now as he
sat sideways in the saddle before the rough board front of the Red Dog
Saloon. Betty had faith in him. That was the phenomenon--the unheard
of miracle. No one else had ever had faith in him, and so it was a new
experience and one that must be thoroughly pondered if he was to enjoy
it. And that he was enjoying it was apparent. Though he faced the Red
Dog Saloon he did not see it. He kept seeing Betty as she looked after
she had given him the money. "I know you will do the right thing," she
had said, or something very like that. It made no difference what her
words had been. What she meant was that she had faith in him. And her
eyes had said that she expected him to justify that faith.

But would he? He didn't know. For the first time in his life he was
afflicted with indecision over the possession of money. In the old
days--the Durango days--which now seemed to be far behind him, the
thousand dollars in his pocket would have served to finance a brief
holiday of license and drinking and reckless play with gambling
devices. But now it was different--somethin