until you sign an order to your lawyers about sellin' that land. Here,
lemme draft it off for you. Twelve words. Likely they'll want an O.
K. on the 'phone, too; but you won't mind that. Now your signature.
Thanks. And say, any time you and Tidman need a crude commercial mind
to help you out, just send for me."

Uh-huh! By three o'clock next day we owned the whole of that Apache
Creek tract and had the goods to shove at Ballinger.

Was it a smear? It was--a smear plus. Tickled? Why, Old Hickory came
so near smilin' I was afraid that armor-plate face of his was goin' to
crack.

But say, don't tell the National Real Estaters' League about that
commission check he slipped me. I might lose my amateur standin'.




CHAPTER VIII

BREAKING ODD WITH MYRA

Next time I'll pay attention. For Vee must have mentioned how this
Cousin Myra of hers was comin'. Yes, I remember now. Said something
about her being an old-maid niece of Auntie's who was due to drift in
from Bermuda or California or somewhere, and that she might stay over a
few days.

But it was no solemn warning as it had a right to be. So, by the time I