With a smile Gray said, "Allow me to congratulate you, sir, upon a most impressive demonstration of the power of mind over matter." "A little killin' helps those scoun'rels," breathed the white-haired warrior. "Surgin' around, wreakin' vengeance on vinegar bottles! And me with a bad indigestion!" "I don't often permit others to do my fighting. But you wouldn't let--" "I don't allow anybody--" doggedly began the former speaker, but the street door burst open, a noisy crowd poured into the room, a volley of excited questions was raised. Amid the confusion Gray heard his own name shouted, and found himself set upon by two agitated friends, Mallow and Stoner. They had been combing Newtown for him, so they declared, and were near by when attracted by the excitement on the sidewalk. What was the trouble? Was Gray hurt? He assured them that he was not, and explained in a few words the origin of the encounter. But other concerns, it seemed, occupied the minds of the pair, and before he had finished Mallow was dragging him towards the door, crying, breathlessly: "Gee, Governor! You gave us a run. We've been coming since noon." "It was only by the grace of God," Stoner declared, "that we heard you were out here and why you'd come. We managed to get a phone call through to Jackson, but it was--" "Jackson? I've been looking for him all the afternoon." "Sure! Mallow swore he was all right, but Mac and I don't know him, and we figured he might turn a trick. Anyhow, Mallow and I jumped the Lizzie and looped it. Boy! I tramped on her some, until we hit bottom the other side of Burk. Mallow went clean through the top. I guess I smashed the whole rear end, but we couldn't wait to see. They'll have her stripped naked, tires, cushions, and all, before we get back. Motor, too, probably. We've been hitting it afoot, on wagons and pipe trucks--managed to get a service car finally, but it fell open like a book. Just one of those dam' unlucky trips." "Jackson didn't get to you, did he?" Mallow inquired, anxiously. "Get to me? No. Nor I to him." Gray spoke impatiently. "What is this all about?" "Simply this, Governor: Jackson's well is a 'set-up'! For Nelson! We nearly dropped dead when we found out that Parker kid had laid _you_ against it. Why didn't you _tell us_--?" "What are you saying? I don't--" "The well's phony. Dry as a pretzel." "In what way? I saw the oil--" "Never mind. Lay off!" "I think I'm entitled to an explanation." "Well, then, it's salted!" "Impossible! I saw it pumping."