two scamps (like me 'n him, for instance) kind o'
join forces against a weaker person and work together in harness like.
Now, if you just wouldn't think too hard of me, I could sort o' let on
to old Welborne, you see, that you was up to your eyes in debt to me,
and that--that the thing had been running on till I was--well, was plumb
tired out, and ready to come down on you."

"Oh, I see." A faint smile broke over the girl's shrewd face. "Why, I
wouldn't care what you did or said, Alfred," she cried. "He's trying to
rob me, and I'd have a right to protect myself."

"Well, then, enough said." Henley fell into an attitude of relief. "You
set here, and I'll run over and chat with him. I may fetch him here, and
if I openly abuse you and dun you to your teeth, you must take it all in
good spirit. You can hang your head and pretend to be sort o' shamed, if
you like; it will help to carry the thing out. Any girl that could sell
that old lion's cage for as much as you did--and in the way you did
it--ought to know how to pull the wool over Welborne's eyes. You see,
when the old devil is made to believe that I'm down on you and
determined to have a settlement, he'll think you are in more desperate
straits than ever. Wait!"

Henley went to the big iron safe in a corner of the room and counted out
a roll of currency. He folded it tightly and gave it to her. "Stick that
down in your pocket," he said, "and have it ready, and, remember, you
are to let on all the way through that you are willing to sell out, but
before you do so you want his proposition put down in black and white.
He may think it is just some cranky woman's notion, and do it--he may,
and he may not; our chances hang on that one thing. You are a dead
goner if you don't get that paper."

"I understand fully," Dixie said, her lips drawn firmly. "The only thing
I don't like is borrowing your money."

"Don't be silly," Henley snorted. "You are good for it, and I'd rather
lend money to you than anybody else on earth. Don't let that bother
you."

"Well, I won't, then," the girl said. "I know you want to help me, and
I'm very thankful for such a friend."

CHAPTER XXV

Crossing the street diagonally, Henley came to a little two-story frame
building near the post-office. Pausing before the door, he looked in and
saw old Welborne seated at his desk near an open window. The
money-lender was thin, had parchment-like skin, massive eyebrows, and
long, gray hair, whi