And I thought it looked awfully mean for me to hold a man to that kind of a bargain.
And so--you won't be mad, old fellow, will you ?--I thought I'd put it beyond any question of my own good faith by having it in black and white." He stopped, laughing and blushing, but still earnest and sincere.

"You don't think me a fool, do you ?" he said pathetically.
Stacy smiled grimly.

"I think, Barker boy, that if you go to the Branch you'll have no difficulty in paying for the Ditch property.

Good-night." In a few moments he was back at the club again before any one knew he had even left the building.

As he again re-entered the smoking-room he found the members still in eager discussion about the new railroad.