They laughed, holding on each other's shoulders; they laughed, clinging to Barker's struggling figure; they went out and laughed with their backs against a tree.

They laughed separately and in different corners.

And then they came up to Barker with tears in their eyes, dropped their heads on his shoulder, and murmured exhaustedly: "You blessed ass!" "But," said Stacy suddenly, "how did you manage to buy the claim ?" "Ah! that's the most awful thing, boys.

I've NEVER PAID FOR IT," groaned Barker.
"But Carter sent us the bill of sale," persisted Demorest, "or we shouldn't have taken it." "I gave my promissory note at thirty days," said Barker desperately, "and where's the money to come from now?
But," he added wildly, as the men glanced at each other--"you said 'taken it.' Good heavens! you don't mean to say that I'm TOO late--that you've--you've touched it ?" "I reckon that's pretty much what we HAVE been doing," drawled Demorest.
"It looks uncommonly like it," drawled Stacy.
Barker glanced blankly from the one to the other.

"Shall we pass our young friend in to see the show ?" said Demorest to Stacy.
"Yes, if he'll be perfectly quiet and not breathe on the glasses," returned Stacy.
They each gravely took one of Barker's hands and led him to the corner of the cabin.