Jim gave a low whistle of comprehension.

"Did you hear me whistle?" he asked suddenly.

"Sure. I was all done. I was just comin' out."

"It was a bull. But he wasn't on a little bit. Went right by an' kept a-
paddin' the hoof out a sight. Then I come back an' gave you the whistle.
What made you take so long after that?"

"I was waitin' to make sure," Matt explained. "I was mighty glad when I
heard you whistle again. It's hard work waitin'. I just sat there an'
thought an' thought . . . oh, all kinds' of things. It's remarkable what a
fellow'll think about. And then there was a darn cat that kept movin'
around the house all' botherin' me with its noises."

"An' it's fat!" Jim exclaimed irrelevantly and with joy.

"I'm sure tellin' you, Jim, it's fat. I'm plum' anxious for another look
at 'em."

Unconsciously the two men quickened their pace. Yet they did not relax
from their caution. Twice they changed their course in order to avoid
policemen, and they made very sure that they were not observed when they
dived into the dark hallway of a cheap rooming house down town.

Not until they had gained their own room on the top floor, did they scratch
a match. While Jim lighted a lamp, Matt locked the door and threw the
bolts into place. As he turned, he noticed that his partner was waiting