The sheriff from Colorado laughs in a good-natured way, as though he enjoys the joke; but somehow Aleck has found a new matter upon which to ponder, an idea that opens up an avenue the end of which no man can see. “We’ll wait and see how you turn out, colonel. Meanwhile I’ve written something on this piece of paper--I put it in this envelope and sealed it up. There, place it in your pocket. Now, when the crisis of your game occurs, open this and see how near the truth I’ve come.” “Quite a clever idea. I’ll do it, by Jove. Here comes some of the ladies, bless ’em! Won’t leave me alone--Cereal been telling some of my adventures and making out I’m a Buffalo Bill sort of a dashing hero. All I want is to keep my man in sight. Only for him and duty, _how_ I would enjoy this 'ere racket. Ladies, your servant. What can I do for you?” The Colorado sheriff bows with the grace of a Chesterfield, and a chorus of feminine voices arises: “Oh, Colonel Rocket, Mr. Cereal has just been telling us about the time you rescued a lovely maiden from the Indians who raided the border. He was unable to finish the romance and sent us to you. What became of Mary?” The colonel’s eyes twinkle. “Oh! she married a worthless scamp out in Denver afterward, and I reckon has been sorry for it ever since,” he says nonchalantly. A chorus of indignant exclamations arises. “It was a shame--after you risked your life to save her!” The colonel, as they flit away like a bevy of butterflies, turns to Aleck and adds dryly: “Mary is my wife.” At this the Canadian bursts out laughing. “Why didn’t you say so, then?” “Ah! I’ve cut my eye-teeth, Mr. Craig. So long as they believe me a bachelor there’s a halo of romance around my head, no matter how homely I may be. Once stamp me a married man, and I’m left to amuse myself--the glamour is gone. Now, my private affairs have nothing to do with these giddy young rosebuds, and I don’t care to have my family under microscopic examination. Hence my silence.” Aleck falls to musing. “Wycherley would say you were right. At least I could depend on him until to-night, but he seems to have turned over a new leaf, and there you have him cutting a heavy swell with the banker’s daughter, and playing the devoted. Jove! he’s the most remarkable of men.” “Quite a clever fellow, and you can bet I’m ready to yell myself hoarse if success comes to him. I wanted to see him on the top wave. He deserves it all. The little sister who is now living with my wife and family never forgets to pray for Claude Wycherley.” “Well, I think he’s on the road to success, for Samson Cereal has taken to him, and means to utilize some talent he has for reading between the lines of stock quotations.”