hundred miles av disert between me an' him? For a sup av wather I'd
go to ye wid me two hands."

Texas Joe laughed outright. "Let's have another drink instead," he
said.

In the silence occasioned by the re-filling of their glasses the two
friends caught the name of Jefferson Worth. Instantly their
attention was attracted to a well-dressed, smart-looking stranger,
who stood at the bar talking loudly to a man known to Rubio City as
a promoter of somewhat doubtful mining schemes. Pat and Texas
listened with amused interest while the two in concert cursed
Jefferson Worth with careful and exhaustive attention to details.

"Go to it, gentlemen!" put in the bar-keeper, as he returned to his
place from the table in the corner. "We-all sure endorses your
opinions. Have one on the house." He graciously helped them to more
liquor.

"Brother Worth sure stands high with this here congregation,"
drawled Texas Joe to his companion.

"Hst!" whispered Pat. "They're askin' afther the kid." The casual,
amused interest of the two friends became intense.

"They sure tried everything to find her folks," the saloon man was
saying, "but there ain't no thin' doin' so far. They say if nobody
shows up with a claim Jefferson Worth is goin' to adopt her an'
bring her up like his own."