un," exclaimed Slim coolly.

"I might do it now." Bud held his gun against Slim's breast.

Slim threw up his hands to show he was not afraid of the boy. "Go
ahead. Squeeze your hardware. I reckon I'm big enough to kill," he
said.

Then he took Bud's hand and gently slid the revolver back into the
holster. The action broke down Bud's bravado. All barriers fell
before the simple action.

"It's all up with me," he said brokenly.

Slim sympathized with the boy in his trouble.

"Buck, he told me. Buck, he 'lowed you had your share of that money,"
he explained.

The boy drew the money from his pocket and handed it to Slim,
remarking: "Here it is--all of it, I never touched it--I was goin'--"
Bud was about to lie again, but he realized the futility of more
falsehoods. "Take it," he added.

Slim counted the money and slipped it in his pocket.

"Bud," he said to that young man. "Me an' you have been pretty good
friends, we have. I learned you how to ride--to throw a rope, an'
Bud--Bud--what did you take it for? I know you didn't murder Terrill
for it, but what did you keep the money for?" He asked the question
with anger and annoyance.

Slim had seated himself by the fire. He spoke to the boy as he would
to a comrade.

"Can't you see?" the boy asked. "Polly. I wanted to make a home for
her--and now she'll know me for what I am, a thief--a thief."

Bud buried his face in his hands, the tears trickling through his
fingers, although he fought strongly against showing his weakness.

Slim rose and stepped to his side, laying his hand on the boy's
shoulder. "Mebbe she won't have to know. Buck, he's dead, and only
you and I know."

Bud looked at the speaker in amazement. A lovable smile crept over
Slim's face. "I'm goin'," he said, "to slip you a new deck, an' give
you a fresh deal. That was part my money that was stole. I never came
back at the county fer it. Buck, he's paid half. I'll let 'em all
think it was the whole. I'll put in a thousan' I have at home, that I
was savin' to buy in with the Triangle B, in case I don't git elected
nex' time. So, Bud, I'm going to lend a thousan' o' this to you, just
to give you a chance at that little home."

"You're the whitest man I ever knew!" cried Bud.

"I reckon I ain't colored, 'cept a little red mite on top," laughed
Slim. He disliked any show of feeling by the boy over the offer he had
made.

"But I can't take your money," Bud protested.