He sat down amid boisterous applause.

“The Watch-dog of the Treasury!” said Steve icily.  The Watch-dog stood apologetically, twisting nervous fingers together.  “It strikes me, Mr. Speaker,” he stammered, “that my eminent colleague might aptly have quoted from the same high authority two maxims in praise of prudence.  ‘Discretion is the better part of valor,’ he says, and also,

    ’He who fights and runs away
    Will live to fight another day.’

“It appears to me the part of prudence——­”

Here he was howled down by disapproving groans.

“The Chair will take great pleasure in recognizing the Gentleman from New Mexico,” suggested Steve, with a gracious nod.

Wildcat Thompson, cowboy, sprang to his feet; lithe, active, eager.  Swiftness, alertness, poise, certainty were in every line of his splendid body.  His was the assured, resourceful bearing of the man of action, whose hands have kept his head, contrasting sharply with the Miner’s heavy and tentative slowness, the awkward self-consciousness of the Easy One, the Objector’s furtive and apprehensive manner, or the Near-Collegian’s languid affectation of dilettantism.

“Be a sport!” He threw out a hand, his confident voice ringing with decision.  “We are seven!—­(or at least we will be when we pick up a financier at Atwood’s).  Get together!  Let us adopt our learned brother’s ingenious device.  Should fraud fail, we can always fall back on——­

                      ’the simple plan
    That each should take who hath the power. 
      And he should keep that can.’

“As alternative, or, I should say, as reserve, I offer—­this!” A swift gleam of silver and steel:  he laid a cocked .45 beside the other exhibits.

“The sword of Brennus!  Woe to the vanquished!” murmured the School-man, when the cheering had abated.  “Mr. Chairman, the amendment is accepted.”

The entire meeting then lit a cigarette.

The Chair arose, using the six-shooter as gavel.  “Gentlemen, have you anything more to offer?  If not will you hear the question?  Is it the sense of this meeting that united we fall upon this infamous coalition with the jaw bone of an ass and get their money; dishonestly if we can, and if not, then by main strength and awkwardness?  Those in favor of the motion will please rise.  I am unanimous, and it is so ordered.  This resolution will be spread all over the minutes, right off.  The Chair will appoint as committee to get a move on, Mr. Stephen Thompson of Montana; the earnest Shakespearian student, Mr. Thompson-Stephen; Mr. Wildcat Thompson of New Mexico; and myself.  Having no further use for a sucker or a quitter, the other two gentlemen may go to the devil, and I hereby stand adjourned.”

So saying, he gathered up his resources and departed.

At a later hour Steve presented himself in a body to the senior Atwood, with his letter from the Judge as credentials.