Nor did he wait for any reply. It was taken for granted that his demands would be promptly acceded to, and he vanished as abruptly as he came. The swing-door closed, and Birdie gave a sigh. "An' him, too," she murmured. "Well, I do declare. It just licks creation." But this was a different proposition to either Toby or Sandy. She sprang to her task for the great Wild Bill in a way that spoke volumes for her sentimental heart. Wild Bill? Well, she would never have owned it, but there was just one man in the world that scared Birdie to death, and at the same time made her think her path was a bed of roses, and that was Wild Bill. In an astonishingly short time she was sitting at the table poring over a writing-pad, and biting the already well-chewed end of a pen. * * * * * Outside, in the smoke-laden atmosphere of the store, amidst the busy click of poker chips and clink of glasses, Wild Bill was talking earnestly to Minky, who was standing behind the counter. They had been talking for some time. Minky's eyes frequently wandered in the direction of a table where four strangers were playing. But no one could have guessed, in his quiet scrutiny, the anxiety that lay behind it. "You _must_ git out to-night?" he inquired of his hawk-visaged friend. "Sure," responded Bill absently. "High finance?" Bill nodded, with the ghost of a smile. "A gang of rich guys," he said. "They're gathering at Spawn City for a financial descent on Suffering Creek. They're all minin' folk. Guess they'll be yearning for a big game." "When'll you git back?" "Noon, day after to-morrow, maybe." Bill had turned away, and was abstractedly contemplating the strangers. Suddenly he turned again, and his steely eyes fixed themselves on the troubled Minky. "Say, things is gettin' on your nerves. It ain't yet. Those folks is only lookin' fer pointers." "An' findin' 'em?" "Mebbe. But it takes time. Say, we ain't dead in Suffering Creek yet. I'll be around before--" "Trouble gits busy." Minky laughed hollowly. "Sure. I'm most gener'ly around when trouble--gits busy. I'm made like that." "I'm glad." Bill drank up the remains of his drink and began to move away. "Wher' you going now?" inquired Minky. "See my plugs fed an' watered, and then gittin' around my shack. I've got to see some folks before I hit the trail. Say, I ain't got big enough wad. Best hand me a couple o' thousand." Minky dived under his counter, and, after fumbling for some time, reappeared with the required sum in United States currency. "Good luck," he said, as he passed it across the counter cautiously. "Thanks. An', say--see the boys keep a close eye on Zip--an' the kids. So long." He moved away, but instead of passing out of the front door he disappeared into the dining-room at the back. CHAPTER XV THE TRUST AT WORK