Van promptly guffawed. "Gee!" he cried, "ther' ain't none. They're sure both 'bug.'" A great laugh greeted the retort, but Joe shook his head. "That sure ain't the answer, but it's real bright," he admitted reluctantly, while Van preened himself. "Guess they're both that wise they don't know if they're comin' down or goin' up," he went on, seeking to add to the score he felt he had made. But Joe felt he was being robbed of the fruits of his effort, and promptly insisted upon his riddle. "What's the diff'rence between Wild Bill an' Minky?" he asked again, this time with added emphasis. He waited impatiently until one of the men shook his head, when he snatched at the opportunity of firing his quip. "Why," he cried, with a shout of delight, "Bill's put his gold into a mudbank, an' Minky's jest yearnin' to set his gold into any old bank," and fell back laughing furiously. But he had his merriment to himself. Van, feeling he had the company with him, sneered. "Gee! that's the worst ever," he cried witheringly. White spat out a chew of tobacco. "I'd say you're that bright you'd orter write comic Bible trac's," he declared. But even in his failure as a humorist Joe Brand gave expression to the general opinion of the two men who, up till that time, had been accounted, to use a local expression, the "wisest guys west o' Spawn City." Certainly, for the time being, the mighty had fallen, and their associates, in the persons of Sunny Oak, Toby Jenks and Sandy Joyce, had to stand by listening to remarks against their fellow Trust members which, though distinctly offensive, they yet, in justice, had to admit were perfectly warranted on the face of things. Even Scipio, mild little man as he was, had to endure considerable chaff, which worried and annoyed him, as to the way in which he had succeeded in bluffing so shrewd a "guy" as Wild Bill into purchasing half his claim. But these things were only sidelights on the feelings of the moment. Expectancy was at fever-heat, and each and every man was wondering what was about to happen. For though their belief in Bill and Minky had received a jolt, long months of experience had sown in them an appreciation that took a power of uprooting. The Monday and Tuesday passed without development of any sort. There were several conferences between the members of the Trust, but these were really only meetings at which the lesser members received more minute instructions for the carrying out of their duties on the Wednesday. No information otherwise was forthcoming for them from either Minky or the president, and all attempt to extort any was promptly nipped in the bud by the latter without the least compunction or courtesy. Sandy resented this attitude. Sunny complained of the lack of confidence. But Toby sat back immensely enjoying the chagrin of his two friends, and cordially swore that both Minky and Bill knew a large-meshed sieve when they saw one.