of
his immediate attention than ever before; to be cut off, therefore, to
be lost for several days at this particular time was more than a
misfortune--it was a catastrophe. Such vague plans as he had considered
he was now forced to abandon. He could see ruin ahead.

One purpose this enforced idleness did serve, however; it enabled
him--nay, it forced him--to evolve a new scheme of relief. Some minds
become paralyzed in moments of panic, others function with unexpected
clearness and ingenuity, and his was such a mind. An idea came to him,
finally, which seemed sound, the more he thought about it. Indeed, its
possibilities galvanized him, and he wondered why he had been so long
in arriving at it. It was spectacular, daring, it might prove to be
impossible of accomplishment; nevertheless, it was worth trying, and he
could scarcely wait for Buddy Briskow to wake up so that he could put
it to him.

Late that evening, after Allie had gone to bed, he had a long talk with
his young friend, during which he told him more about his affairs than
he had made known even to Roswell, the banker.

Buddy listened with the closest attention. He drew a deep breath at
last and said: "I knew you was in deep, but I thought it was just your
way. Now I _know_ it was Nelson's crew that fired our gasser. Why, they
might have cost us thousands--yes, hundreds of thousands--if it had
been the kind of a gusher we figgered on! Say"--the speaker's brows
drew together in an angry scowl--"what ails this Nelson, anyhow--tryin'
to get you shot, an' firin' your wells, an' everything?"

"He once did me a great injury."

"What kind?"

There was a pause. "I'd rather not go into that now, Buddy. To repeat
what I've been telling you, however, the situation is this: I've gone
as far as I can go with the backing I have, and I must make a quick
turn--strike one final blow or give up. Nelson and I are like two
wrestlers floundering on the mat. We're both tired, groggy, out of
breath. Whichever one gets the first hold will win, for the other lacks
strength to break it. Do you think your father would trust me? Do you
think he'd go it blind on my say-so?"

"If he won't, I will. I got money. So's Allie."

Gray declined this offer with a positive shake of the head. "It must
appeal to him on its merits. I wouldn't permit you to go contrary to
his judgment."

"Judgment? What's Pa's judgment worth? He knows it's no good, an' so do
we. Everybody's tryin' to do hi