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Bennington instinctively put his finger on his lips to enjoin silence,

and peered cautiously over the edge of the dike Perhaps he was glad

that this diversion had occurred to postpone even for a short time the

announcement of a decision it had cost hinised the voice

Threea trifle laboriously over the broken rocks at

the foot of the dike, swearing a little at their unstable footing, but

all apparently much in earnest in their conversation Even as

Bennington looked they came to a halt, and then sank down each on a

convenient rock, talking interestedly One was Old Mizzou, one was the

ton had never seen

The latter had hardly the air of the country

He was a dapper little ray bob-tailed cutaway,

and a brown derby hat, which was pushed far back on his head His face,

however, was keen and alert and brown, all of which characteristics

indicated an active Western life at no very reton de Laney's attention were

delivered by Old Mizzou to this stranger

"Thar!" the old ood-lookin' a lead as they make 'eh voice "Your

vein is a fissure vein all right enough, and you've got a good wide

lead If it holds up in quality, I don't know but what you're right"