t
in books, but no experienced operator had ever been fooled in that way.

About this time a big gasser blew in north of the Louisiana fields, and
wise oil men began to talk about Arkansas and quietly to gather in
acreage. Less than a week later one of Nelson's field men brought into
the bank a youth who owned some property in the latter state. This
yokel was a sick man; he was thin and white; he had a racking cough,
and he knew nothing about oil except from hearsay. All he knew was that
he would die if he didn't get to a warmer, drier climate; but the story
he told caused Henry Nelson to stare queerly at his field man. That
very night the latter left town.

On the third night thereafter, in answer to a telegram, Nelson and the
Arkansas farmer slipped unobtrusively out of Wichita Falls. It so
happened that Brick Stoner, en route to Hot Springs for a little rest,
was a passenger on the same train.

Stoner returned in due time, much rested, and he brought with him a
large check to the firm's account.

"We timed it to the minute," he told McWade and Mallow. "That gasser
couldn't have come in better if we'd ordered it. Nelson's dickering
under cover for more acreage near what he's got, but I tipped off who
he was."

"He fell easy, eh?"

Stoner grinned. "He was so pleased with himself at swindling an
invalid, and so scared somebody would discover those seepages that he
couldn't hardly wait to sign up. If it hadn't of been for the general
excitement, he might of insisted on time to do some exploring, but he's
pulled a rig off another job and he's sending it right up."

"We've got some good news, too," McWade asserted. "Avenger Number One
is trying hard to come in."

"No?"

"I tell you Gray's got a rabbit foot. If we continue to trail along
with him, I'll be losing you as a partner, Brick."

"How so?"

"Why, I'll be turning honest. It seems to pay."

"Um-m. Probably I'd better keep all this Nelson money and leave you--"

"Oh, not at all," the junior partner said, quickly. "That isn't an oil
deal, strictly speaking, for you say there ain't oil enough on the land
to grease a jackknife. I look on it as a real-estate speculation."

With a laugh Stoner accepted this explanation, and then announced that
he was hungry for his breakfast.

This time Mallow spoke up. "I'm bally-hooing for a new joint; Fulton's
Fancy Waffle Foundry. Follow me and I'll try to wedge you in. But
you'll have to eat fast and pick your teet