"To be sho'," said the Whipper-in, meekly--"I did forgit--please excuse me, sah." "Then, in talking to Conway, you, of course, would draw his attention to the fact that he is to have a nice cottage free of rent--that will come in right handy when he finds himself out in the road--sold out and nowhere to go," he said. "'N' the commissary," put in Carpenter quietly. "Excuse me, sah, but there's a mighty good bran' of whiskey there, you know!" Travis smiled good humoredly: "Your wits are returning," he said; "I think you understand." "I'll see him to-morrow," said Carpenter, rising to go. "Oh, don't be in a hurry," said Travis. "Excuse me, sah, but I'm afraid I've bored you stayin' too long." "Sit down," said the other, peremptorily--"you will need something to help you along the road. Shall we take another?" So they took yet another drink, and Carpenter went out, calling his dog. Travis stood in the doorway and watched them go down the driveway. They both staggered lazily along. Travis smiled: "Both drunk--the dog on ham." As he turned to go in, he reeled slightly himself, but he did not notice it. When he came back he was restless. He looked at the clock. "Too early for bed," he said. "I'd give a ten if Charley Biggers were here with his little cocktail laugh to try me a game of poker." Suddenly he went to the window, and taking a small silver whistle from his pocket he blew it toward the stables. Soon afterwards a well dressed mulatto boy entered. "How are the horses to-night, Jim?" he asked. "Fine, sir--all eatin' well an' feelin' good." "And Coquette--the saddle mare?" "Like split silk, sir." "Exercise her to-morrow under the saddle, and Sunday afternoon we will give Miss Alice her first ride on her--she's to be a present for her on her birth-day, you know--eh?" Jim bowed and started out. "You may fix my bath now--think I'll retire. O Jim!" he called, "see that Antar, the stallion, is securely stalled. You know how dangerous he is." He was just dozing off when the front door closed with a bang. Then a metal whip handle thumped heavily on the floor and the jingling of a spur rattled over the hall floor, as Harry Travis boisterously went down the hall, singing tipsily, "Oh, Johnny, my dear, Just think of your head, Just think of your head In the morning." Another door banged so loudly it awakened even the setter. The old dog came to the side of the bed and laid his head affectionately in Travis' palm. The master of The Gaffs stroked his head, saying: "It is strange that I love this old dog so." CHAPTER IV FOOD FOR THE FACTORY The next morning being Saturday, Carpenter, the Whipper-in, mounted his Texas pony and started out toward the foothills of the mountains.