approval -- even of congratulation. In this he was
doomed to disappointment, for the other continued
silent, and in silence finally turned back, his whole
attitude that of one who saw nothing in the spectacle
worthy of comment. Felipe followed him,
nettled, and sat down and himself rolled a cigarette.
As he sat smoking it the other seated himself
beside him, and presently touched him on the
arm and began to speak. Felipe listened, with
now and again a nod of approval, and, when the
_compadre_ was finished, accepted the brilliant
proposition.

"A bet, eh?" he exclaimed. "All right!" And
he produced his sheepskin pouch and dumped out
his three dollars. "All right! I bet you feety
cents, Franke, thot eet don' be!"

Frank looked his disdain at the amount offered.
Also, his eyes blazed and his round face reddened.
He shoved his hand into his overalls,
brought forth a silver dollar, and tossed it down
in the sand.

"A bet!" he yelled. "Mek eet a bet! A dolar!"
Then he narrowed his eyes in the direction of the
mare. "Mek eet a good bet! You have chonce
to win, too, Felipe -- you know!"

Felipe did not respond immediately. Money
was his all-absorbing difficulty. Never plentiful
with him, it was less than ever plentiful now,
and was wholly represented in the three dollars
before him. A sum little enough in fact,
it dwindled rapidly as he recalled one by one his
numerous debts. For he owed much money. He

[[8]]

p007 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p008w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p009

v?