h on the sidewalk, for we
need the room." In answer to Stoner's stare, the speaker explained his
interest in the welfare of Wichita Falls's newest eating place, and en
route thereto he told how Margie Fulton came to be running it. "Gray
did it. He got the Parker girl to help us, and we had the place all
fixed up by the time Margie got here. She's tickled pink, and it'll
coin money--if it isn't pinched."

"Pinched?"

"Sure! Bennie's the cashier, and he palms everything from dimes to
dishtowels. Force of habit! Better count your change till I break him
of short-changing the customers."

"_You_--" Stoner stopped in his tracks.

"Oh, I'm giving him lessons in elemental honesty."

"My God! Are you turning honest, too?" the other man exclaimed. "Seems
like that's all I hear lately."

It was a blue day for Henry Nelson when Avenger Number One came in, for
it made necessary immediate drilling operations on his part. And the
worst of it was the well was not big enough to establish a high value
for his holdings. It was just enough of a producer to force him to
begin three offsets and that, for the moment, was an undertaking
decidedly inconvenient.

Bell Nelson was even more dismayed at the prospect than was his son,
for upon him fell the necessity of raising the money. "Hell of a note,"
the old fellow grumbled, "when a wet well puts a crimp in us! A little
more good luck like this and we'll go broke."

"We can't afford to let go, or to sub-lease--"

"Of course not, after the stand we've taken. There's talk on the street
about the bank, now, and--I'd give a good deal to know where it comes
from." The junior Nelson had heard similar echoes, but he held his
tongue. "I never did like your way of doing business," the speaker
resumed, fretfully. "We've overreached. You wanted it all and--this is
the result."

Now Henry Nelson was warranted in resenting this accusation, for it had
ever been Bell's way to pursue a grasping policy, therefore he cried,
angrily:

"That's right; pass the buck. You know you wouldn't listen to anything
else. If we're in deep, you're more to blame than I."

"Nothing of the sort." Old Bell began a profane denial, but the younger
man broke in, irritably:

"I've never won an argument with you, so have it your own way. But
while you're raising money for the Avenger offsets, you'd better raise
plenty, for Gray is going to punch holes down as fast as ever he can."

"Who is this Gray? What's he got