o hear it just once more."

"I was thinking," said P. Walton, more to himself than to his
companion, "that I'd like to get down to Northern Australia--up
Queensland way. They say it's good for what ails me--bakes it out of
one."

"Dook," said Larry, shoving out his hand, "you can buy your ticket the
day after the night after next--you'll get yours, and don't you forget
it, I'll see to that. We'll move camp to-morrow down handy to the
place I told you about, and get things ready. And say, Dook, is that
cuss Nulty on the new run?"

"I don't know anything about Nulty," said P. Walton.

"Well, I hope he is," said Larry, with a fervent oath. "We're going to
cut the heart out of him for what he did to Spud. The Butcher was for
coming into town and putting a bullet through him anyway, but I'm not
for throwing the game. It won't hurt Spud's memory any to wait a bit,
and we won't lose any enthusiasm by the delay, you can bet your life on
that! And now I guess I'll mosey along. The less I'm seen around here
the better. Well, so long, Dook--I got it straight, eh? Night after
to-morrow, train passes Spider Cut eight-seventeen--that right?"

"Eight-seventeen--night after to-morrow--yes," said P. Walton. "Good
luck to you, Larry."

"Same to you, Dook," said Larry--and slipped away in the shadows.

P. Walton went uptown to sit for an hour or two with Nulty--turn about
being no more than fair play. Also on the following night he did the
same--and on this latter occasion he took the opportunity, when Mrs.
Nulty wasn't around to hear and worry about it, to turn the
conversation on the hold-up, after leading up to it casually.

"When you get out and back on your run again, Nulty, I'd keep a sharp
look-out for that fellow whose pal you shot," he said.

"You can trust me for that," said Nulty anxiously. "I'll bet he
wouldn't get away a second time!"

"Unless he saw you first," amended P. Walton evenly. "There's probably
more where those two came from--a gang of them, I dare say. They'll
have it in for you, Nulty."

"Don't you worry none about me," said Nulty, and his jaw shot out.
"I'm able to take care of myself."

"Oh, well," said P. Walton, "I'm just warning you, that's all. Anyway,
there isn't any immediate need for worry. I guess you're safe
enough--so long as you stay in bed."

The next day P. Walton worked assiduously at the office. If excitement
or nervousness in regard to the events of the night th