and fell and crackled.
Welton's face showed still a trace of stubbornness. Suddenly Baker
leaned forward, all his customary fresh spirits shining in his face.

"Don't like to take his na'ty medicine?" said he. "Well, now, I'll tell
you. I know Plant mighty well. He eats out of my hand. He just loves me
as a father. If I should go to him and say; 'Plant, my agile sylph,
these people are my friends. Give them their nice little permit and let
them run away and play,' why, he'd do it in a minute." Baker rolled his
eyes drolly at Welton. "Can this be the shadow of doubt! You disbelieve
my power?" He leaned forward and tapped Welton's knee. His voice became
grave: "I'll tell you what I'll do. _I'll bet you a thousand dollars I
can get your permit for you!"_

The two men looked steadily into each other's eyes.

At last Welton drew a deep sigh.

"I'll go you," said he.

Baker laughed gleefully.

"It's a cinch," said he. "Now, honest, don't you think so? Do you give
up? Will you give me a check now?"

"I'll give you a check, and you can hunt up a good stakeholder," said
Welton. "Shall I make it out to Plant?" he inquired sarcastically.

"Make the check out to me," said Baker. "I'll just let Plant hold the
stakes and decide the bet."

He rose.

"Bring out the fiery, untamed steed!" he cried. "I must away!"

"Not to-night?" cried Bob in astonishment.

"Plant's in his upper camp," said Baker, "and it's only five miles by
trail. There's still a moon."

"But why this haste?"

"Well," said Baker, spreading his sturdy legs apart and surveying first
one and then the other. "To tell you the truth, our old friend Plant is
getting hostile about these prods from Washington, and he intimated he'd
better hear from me before midnight to-day."

"You've already seen him!" cried Bob.

But Baker merely grinned.

As he stood by his horse preparing to mount, he remarked casually.

"Just picked up a new man for my land business--name Oldham."

"Never heard of him," said Welton.

"He isn't the _Lucky Lands_ Oldham, is he?" asked Bob.

"Same chicken," replied Baker; then, as Bob laughed, "Think he's phoney?
Maybe he'll take watching--and maybe he won't. I'm a good little
watcher. But I do know he's got 'em all running up the street with their
hats in their hands when it comes to getting results."

X

Baker must have won his bet, for Welton never again saw his check for
one thousand dollars, until it was returned to