"Well, all right," she said after a hasty perusal, "but where's that sum of ten dollars? Now you hush, Virginia, and go--into--the--_kitchen_! Now, it says right here--oh, where is that place? Oh yes, 'the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged'! _Virginia!_" She stamped her foot, but Virginia's blood was up and she made a grab at the paper. "Now, _listen!_" she screamed, stopping her mother in her rush. "That man there is Wiley Holman! Yes--Holman! Old Honest John's son! What's this you're going to sign?" She backed away, her eyes fixed on the agreement, while the Widow stood astounded. "Wiley _Holman_!" she shrieked, "why, you limb of Satan, you said your name was Wiley!" "It is," returned Wiley with one eye on the door, "the rest of my name is Holman." "But you signed it on this paper--you wrote it right there! Oh, I'll have the law on you for this!" She clutched at the paper and as Virginia gave it to her mother she turned an accusing glance upon Wiley. "Yes, that's just like you, Mr. M. R. Wiley," she observed with scathing sarcasm. "You were just that way when you were a kid here in Keno--always trying to get the advantage of somebody. But if I'd thought you had the nerve----" She glanced at the paper and gasped and Wiley showed his teeth in a grin. "Well, she crowded me to it," he answered with a swagger. "I'm strictly business--I'll sign up anybody. You can just keep that paper," he nodded to the Widow, "and send it to me by mail." He winked at Virginia and slipped swiftly out the door as the Widow made a rush for her gun. She came out after him, brandishing a double-barreled shotgun, just as he cranked up his machine to start. "I'll show you!" she yelled, jerking her gun to her shoulder. "I'll learn you to get funny with _me_!" She pulled the trigger, but Wiley was watching her and he ducked down behind the radiator. _Clank_, went the hammer and with a wail of rage the Widow snapped the other barrel. "You, Virginia!" she cried in a terrible voice, "have you been monkeying with my shotgun?" The answer was lost in a series of explosions that awoke every echo in Keno, and Wiley Holman leapt into his machine. He jerked off his brake and stepped on the foot throttle but as he roared off up the street he waved a grimy hand at Virginia. CHAPTER III THE SHADOW