McGlory was back in ten minutes. His face was glowing. “Matt King dodged Levitt and all the rest who were trailing him,” he reported. “What!” The colonel arose excitedly from his seat. “Don’t fret, colonel,” grinned the cowboy, “it’s not so bad as that. An old darky who works around the club grounds helped Matt make his getaway. Matt asked him to tell me to meet him in the woods at the roadside, a quarter of a mile north. That’s where I’m going now. You’ll hear from me before one o’clock, colonel.” “What are you going to do?” rapped out the colonel. “Something that will make the deal a sure go. I haven’t time to talk much. _Adios_, for now.” McGlory was away again like a shot, leaving the colonel wondering--and fretting a little. A few minutes later Levitt came gloomily into the room. “That young cub gave us the slip,” said he savagely, “and I never had such a run in my life. The fat’s in the fire, Billings.” “Not so, my friend,” returned the colonel, his quick wit grasping something that looked like an opportunity. “Can you get hold of a man who will help you? Are you acquainted with any one about the club grounds who can be trusted to do a little brisk work and then keep quiet about it?” “Well, yes. The man in the garage is known to me, and he’s out for anything that’s got a dollar in it. But what of it?” The colonel’s plan was based on the information just communicated to him by McGlory. He went into the matter swiftly, but exhaustively, and when he had done the gloom had vanished from Levitt’s face. “It will work, it will work,” murmured the mining engineer, rubbing his hands. “Then go and work it,” said the colonel briskly. CHAPTER IX. WHAT AILS M’GLORY? Matt King, in a clump of bushes a quarter of a mile north of the Malvern Country Club, watched the road and waited for his chum. He had not much hope that McGlory would join him, for he believed that the cowboy would be held a prisoner by the colonel. What Matt was doing, in this particular matter, was all for his friend. McGlory had become entangled with a gang of confidence men, who were playing boldly for big stakes. Whether the dishonest game won out or failed, Joe McGlory must have nothing to do with it. If he profited by the crime he would be called on to suffer at the hands of the law; and, even if the law never reached him, his conscience would make him miserable all his life for the part he had played in such a huge swindling scheme. Matt, at any cost to himself, meant to keep McGlory clear of Billings and his criminal work. What is a friend for if not to stand shoulder to shoulder with a chum and save his good name? This touched upon one of Matt’s principles--one of his rules of conduct long ago formulated and steadily adhered to. And it was a code which had played a big part in his many successes.