“He’ll take all the time to it he can,” Racey evaded the direct reply.  “But whatever happens don’t think of taking any offer like that of Tweezy’s.  It’s a trick, thassall.  No matter who comes to you nor what he offers don’t you move till—­Well, anyway, Judge Dolan and Jake Rule are with you from soda to hock, and they’ll do all they can to hold things at a stand-still till I can fix it all up.  You must remember that I know what you dunno, and when I say that everything will end fine and daisy you better believe I know what I’m talking about.”

Molly looked at him keenly.  “Racey, that’s the third or fourth time you’ve said that.  I wonder if you really have something up your sleeve.”

“Of course I have,” Racey insisted.  “You wait.  You’ll see.”

“What do you know?  Tell us.”

“Never mind, and I won’t.  It might spoil everything if I told you.  You just leave it to me.”

He had definitely made his bluff.  He would have to make good.  And he no more knew how to make good in the business than the year-old baby busy with its toes.  But ere this men have killed dragons and made wonders come to pass all for the sake of their ladies’ eyes.  Men as prosaic and matter-of-fact as the puncher, Racey Dawson.  Quite so.

Half-an-hour after the departure of Luke Tweezy Mr. Saltoun and Tom Loudon rode in on lathered horses.  They were, it seemed, journeying homeward from the 88 whither they had gone in an endeavour to persuade Lanpher and Tweezy to sell the Dale mortgage.

“Tweezy, huh?” said Racey.  “He’s just left here.”

“He must ‘a’ rode like the devil,” said Mr. Saltoun.  “He was in the office with Lanpher when we left.”

“I thought I noticed a feller off to the south of us as we come along,” observed Loudon.  “He was just a-boilin’.  I only saw him the once as he slid by the mouth of a draw.  Looked like he was trying to keep out of sight.  Rode a gray hoss.”

“Tweezy rode a gray,” nodded Racey.

“Him, all right.  What did he want here, Racey?”

“Offered Mis’ Dale one thousand cold if she’d pull her freight.”

“She ain’t gonna do it, is she?” demanded the alarmed Mr. Saltoun.

Racey shook his head.  “She’s gonna stick.”

“She must.  Hell, yes.  Those papers of Luke’s are forged.  I know they are.”

“So does everybody else,” put in Tom Loudon, “but if something don’t turn up damn quick—­” He broke off, shaking a dubious head.

“Something will,” declared Racey, making his bluff a second time with an air of supreme confidence.

“You know something, Racey,” prodded Mr. Saltoun who prided himself on his perspicacity.  “Whadda you know?”

“I ain’t telling it,” answered Racey, coolly.  “I ain’t coming back to the ranch to-day, neither.”

“Oh, you ain’t.  Listen to the new owner, Tom.”

“That’s all right,” said Racey.  “If I’m going to do the world any good I’ve got to have a free hand.”