"Yo're a little striped animal in this town--one of them kind that's onpleasant up-wind from a feller," snorted Idaho. "How can you play Injun when they know yo're hangin' 'round here lookin' for yore money? Answer me that, maverick!" "I'm comin' to that. Can you get me an old hat? One that's plumb wore out?" "Reckon so," grunted Idaho, in surprise. "Th' clerk might be able to dig one up." "No, not th' clerk; but Ed Doane," corrected Johnny. "Now you think hard before you answer this one: Could you see my face plain when you found me? Could _they_ have seen it plain enough to be shore it was me?" Idaho stared at him and a cheerful expression drifted across his face. "I'm gettin' th' drift of this Injun business," he muttered. "Mebby--mebby--cuss it, it _will_ work! I couldn't see nothin' but a bump on th' ground along that wall till I lit a match. I'll get you a hat an' I'll plant it, too." Johnny nodded. "Plant anythin' else you want that don't look like anythin' I own. Be shore that hat ain't like mine." Idaho raised his hand as a sudden tramping sounded on the stairs. "That yore outfit?" he asked as a loud, querulous voice was heard. Johnny went to the door and called, whereupon Arch waved his companions toward their quarters and answered the summons, following his foreman into the room. Johnny was about to close the door when Idaho arose and pushed past him. "We been talkin' too loud," whispered the departing puncher. "You never can tell. I'm goin' out to sit on th' top step where there's more air," and he went on again, the door closing after him. Johnny turned and smiled at Arch's expression. "You boys leave at daylight on th' jump. I got to stay here. You can say I'm waitin' for th' chance to pick up some money--buyin' a herd of yearlin's cheap, or anythin' you can think of. Anythin' that'll stick. You'll have plenty of time to smooth it out before you get back home. I want you boys to scratch up every cent you've got an' turn it over to me. Any left of that I gave you after supper?" "Shore--quite some," grinned Arch. "We had better luck, down th' street. You must be aimin' to get a-plenty yearlin's, with that roll you got. What are _we_ goin' to do, busted?" "I want a couple of Colts, too," continued Johnny. "You won't need any money. Th' waggin is well stocked--an' when you get back you can draw on Arnold." "We was goin' to stop at Highbank for a good time," protested Arch. "Have it in yore old man's hotel an' owe it to him," suggested Johnny. "Have a good time in my old man's place!" exclaimed Arch. "Oh, _h--l_!" He burst out laughing. "That'll tickle th' boys, _that_ will!" The puncher looked searchingly at his foreman. "Hey, what's all th' trouble?" Johnny thought it would be wiser to post his companion and crisply told what had happened.