Talk it over with me, and convince me that your company will be sufficiently liberal in return for large favors." "Oh, the Colthwaite Company would be liberal enough," protested Ransom, "and quick to hand out the cash, at that." "I took that for granted," smiled Duff, showing his white teeth.

"Your people, the Colthwaites, have always been accustomed to paying for favors that require unusual talent, some courage-and perhaps a persistency of the shooting kind." Then the two rascals, who now thoroughly understood each other, fell to plotting.

An hour later the outlook was dark, indeed, for the success of Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton..