"Well--doggone _me_!" There was a pause, then the speaker
brightened. "Mebbe you'll take Buddy, after all? You kin set your
own wages."

Gray shook his head. "There are two good reasons why I couldn't
accept, even if I wished. I've told you one; I'm too fond of you
Briskows to risk ruining Buddy."

"What's the other one?"

"A purely personal reason. I have a definite something to do here
in Texas. Before I can accomplish it, I shall have to make a lot
of money, but that I shall do easily. I make money rapidly when I
start."

"You gotta git goin' afore long." Briskow allowed his eyes to rove
about the spacious Governor's suite. "'Specially with only eighty-
seven forty--"

"That is nearly eighty-seven dollars more than I had when I
arrived. Three weeks ago I was an utter stranger here; to-day I
know everybody worth knowing in a business way, and some of them
are my friends."

"If you could learn Buddy to make friends like that--"

But Gray raised his hand. "I derive a certain amusement from my
own peculiar characteristics and capabilities, but I should detest
them in another."