until morning, but Brevoort,
naturally restless, suggested that they go to a moving-picture theater.
They changed their clothes. Pete felt decidedly uncomfortable in the
coat, and was only persuaded to wear it when Brevoort pointed out that
it was a case of either leave their guns in the room or wear something
to cover them. Then came the question of what they were to do with the
money. Pete was for taking it along with them, but Brevoort vetoed the
suggestion. "It's as safe here as in a bank," he said, and taking the
two sacks from the saddle-pockets he lowered each one gently into the
big water-pitcher. "Nothin' in there but water, which don't interest a
Chola nohow. But I'll cinch it." Which he did downstairs, as he drew
a handful of gold pieces from his pocket, counted them carefully, and
left something like fifty dollars with the proprietor, asking him to
take care of the money for them, as they did not want to get "plumb
broke" the first night in town. The Mexican grinned understandingly.
He was familiar with the ways of cowboys. Their money would be safe
with him.

Outside Pete asked Brevoort if he had not "jest about made a present of
fifty to that Mex."

"Not any. He figures he'll get his share of it when we git to hittin'
the high-spots--which we don't aim to hit, this journey. That Mexican
sure thinks he's got all the money we own except what's on us right
now. So he won't ever think of goin' through our stuff upstairs. That
fifty was insurance on the big money. Let's go where we kin git a real
drink--and then we'll have a look at a show."

The "real drink" was followed by another. When Brevoort suggested a
third, Pete shook his head. "It's all right, if you want to hit it,
Ed--but it's takin' a big chanct. Somethin' might slip. 'T ain't the
drinkin'--but it's the drinkin' right now."

"Reckon you 're right," concurred Brevoort. "But I ain't had a drink
for so long--let's go see that show."

They crowded into a cheap and odoriferous nickel theater, and
straightway Pete forgot where he was and all about who he was in
watching the amazing offerings of the screen. The comedy feature
puzzled him. He thought that he was expected to laugh--folks all round
him were laughing--but the unreality of the performance left him
staring curiously at the final tangle of a comedy which struggled to be
funny to the bitter end. His attention was keen for the next picture,
a Western drama, entitled "T