e hotel, asked for a room, and clumped upstairs. He
rose early and knocked at Corliss's door, then entered without waiting
for a response.

He wakened Corliss, who sat up and stared at him stupidly. "Mornin',
Billy. How's the head?"

"I don't know yet. Got any cash, Fade? I'm broke."

"Sure. What you want?"

Corliss made a gesture, at which the other laughed. "All right,
pardner. I'll fan it for the medicine."

When he returned to the room, Corliss was up and dressed. Contrary to
Fadeaway's expectations, the other was apparently himself, although a
little too bright and active to be normal.

"Guess I got noisy last night," said Corliss, glancing at Fadeaway's
swollen lip.

"Forget it! Have some of this. Then I got to fan it."

"Where are you going?"

"Me? Over to the Blue. Got a job waitin' for me."

Corliss's fingers worked nervously. "When did you say the Concho paid
off?" he queried, avoiding the other's eye.

Fadeaway's face expressed surprise. "The Concho? Why, next Monday.
Why?"

"Oh--nothing. I was just wondering . . ."

"Want to send any word to Jack?" asked the cowboy.

"No, I don't. Thanks, just the same, Fade."

"Sure! Well, I guess I'll be goin'."

"Wait a minute. Don't be in a rush. I was thinking . . ."

Fadeaway strode to the window and stood looking out on the street. His
apparent indifference was effective.

"Say, Fade, do you think we could--could get away with it?"

"With what?" exclaimed the cowboy, turning.

"Oh, you know! What you said yesterday."

"Guess I said a whole lot yesterday that I forgot this mornin'. I get
to joshin' when I'm drinkin' bug-juice. What you gettin' at?"

"The money--at the Concho."

"Oh, that! Why, Billy, I was jest stringin' you! Supposin' somebody
was to make a try for it; there's Chance like to be prowlin' around and
the safe ain't standin' open nights. Besides, Jack sleeps next to the
office. That was a josh."

"Well, I could handle Chance," said Corliss. "And I know the
combination to the safe, if it hasn't been changed. You said Jack was
likely to be away nights, now."

Fadeaway shook his head. "You're dreamin', Bill. 'Sides, I wouldn't
touch a job like that for less'n five hundred."

"Would you--for five hundred?"

"I dunno. Depends on who I was ridin' with."

"Well, I'll divvy up--give you five hundred if you'll come in on it."

Again Fadeaway shook his head. "It's too risky, Billy. 'Course yo