"Which means money."

"A few thousand only. I'll be back by fall."

"Do you know that you'll have to mortgage your future for that money,
Vance?"

He blinked at her, but maintained his smile under fire courageously.

"Come, come! Things are booming. You told me yesterday what you'd clean
up on the last bunch of Herefords."

When she folded her hands, she was most dangerous, he knew. And now the
bony fingers linked and she shrugged the shawl more closely around her
shoulders.

"We're partners, aren't we?" smiled Vance.

"Partners, yes. You have one share and I have a thousand. But--you don't
want to sell out your final claim, I suppose?"

His smile froze. "Eh?"

"If you want to get those few thousands, Vance, you have nothing to put
up for them except your last shreds of property. That's why I say you'll
have to mortgage your future for money from now on."

"But--how does it all come about?"