friend, you know where to find him."

"Hold on, Fade. What's your rush?"

"Got to see a fella. Mebby I'll drop in later."

Corliss rose.

Fadeaway leaned across the table. "I'm broke, and you're broke. The
Concho pays off Monday, next week. The boys got three months
comin'--close to eighteen hundred--and gold."

"Gold? Thought John paid by check?"

"He's tryin' to keep the boys from cashin' in, here. Things are goin'
to be lively between Loring and the Concho before long. Jack needs all
the hands he's got."

"But I don't see what that's got to do with it, Fade."

"Nothing 'ceptin' I'm game to stand by a pal--any time."

"You mean--?"

"Jest a josh, Billy. I was only thinkin' what _could_ be pulled off by
a couple of wise ones. So-long!"

And the cowboy departed wondering just how far his covert suggestion
had carried with Will Corliss. As for Will Corliss, Fadeaway cared
nothing whatever. Nor did he intend to risk getting caught with a