ing up after my trip
up-state, but after that I'll show you around. But perhaps you've been
here before?"

"Not I," said Steve. "My first trip. Haven't been out of Montana since
I was a kid. I'm sure glad to meet a friend so soon."

"Lots of Montana people here," said Mitchell cheerily. "We'll look
'em up. Probably find some of your old friends. People here from
everywhere. Say--Judge Harney got into a bad mix-up, didn't he? That
young Charley Clark is a devil. I've met him up here." With this he
launched into a discussion of Butte, with inquiries as to various
figures of local prominence, from which Steve was fain to escape by
turning the talk on his final good luck, the sale of his mine and his
rosy prospects. For Mitchell had "crammed up" on Butte industriously.
Steve lacked his facilities, his sole source of information being
certain long-past campfire tales of Neighbor Jones.

"Made it at last, did you? Glad to hear it. Can't keep a good man
down, as the whale said to Jonah," said Mitchell heartily. "'But
with all thy getting, get understanding,'" he quoted with unctuous
benevolence. "The city is full of traps for the unwary. You can't be
too careful, young man. Don't be drawn into gambling, or drinking, or
fast company, or you'll be robbed before you know it. Watch out for
pickpockets, and, above all, be chary of making acquaintance with
strangers. They're sly down here, my boy--devilish sly. Have you any
friends in town? If you have, get them to go around with you till you
learn the ropes."

"Don't know a soul but you," said Steve truthfully. "But I have a
letter here to the people who are putting the sale through. Do you
know these people?"

"Atwood, Strange & Atwood," Mitchell read. "A good, reliable firm.
I don't know them, but I know of 'em. They will advise you just as I
do."

"But," objected Steve, "I want to see a good time. That's what I come
for. For instance, I want to see the races. And naturally, I want to
put up a few dollars to make it interesting."

"Bad business--bad business," admonished the elder man wisely. "I
don't object to a quiet game of cards myself, among friends, and for
modest stakes. But I can't afford to do anything to hurt my business
reputation. Let a man of small means, like myself, play the ponies, or
affect shady company, and what happens? All the banks know it at once,
and shut down on loans instanter. They keep tab on all business men
religiously."

"What's your lin