“We been pards, me and you, Shark Dodson, for three year,” Bob said quietly.  “We’ve risked our lives together time and again.  I’ve always give you a square deal, and I thought you was a man.  I’ve heard some queer stories about you shootin’ one or two men in a peculiar way, but I never believed ’em.  Now if you’re just havin’ a little fun with me, Shark, put your gun up, and we’ll get on Bolivar and vamose.  If you mean to shoot—­shoot, you blackhearted son of a tarantula!”

Shark Dodson’s face bore a deeply sorrowful look.  “You don’t know how bad I feel,” he sighed, “about that sorrel of yourn breakin’ his leg, Bob.”

The expression on Dodson’s face changed in an instant to one of cold ferocity mingled with inexorable cupidity.  The soul of the man showed itself for a moment like an evil face in the window of a reputable house.

Truly Bob Tidball was never to “hit the breeze” again.  The deadly .45 of the false friend cracked and filled the gorge with a roar that the walls hurled back with indignant echoes.  And Bolivar, unconscious accomplice, swiftly bore away the last of the holders-up of the “Sunset Express,” not put to the stress of “carrying double.”

But as “Shark” Dodson galloped away the woods seemed to fade from his view; the revolver in his right hand turned to the curved arm of a mahogany chair; his saddle was strangely upholstered, and he opened his eyes and saw his feet, not in stirrups, but resting quietly on the edge of a quartered-oak desk.

I am telling you that Dodson, of the firm of Dodson & Decker, Wall Street brokers, opened his eyes.  Peabody, the confidential clerk, was standing by his chair, hesitating to speak.  There was a confused hum of wheels below, and the sedative buzz of an electric fan.

“Ahem!  Peabody,” said Dodson, blinking.  “I must have fallen asleep.  I had a most remarkable dream.  What is it, Peabody?”

“Mr. Williams, sir, of Tracy & Williams, is outside.  He has come to settle his deal in X. Y. Z. The market caught him short, sir, if you remember.”

“Yes, I remember.  What is X. Y. Z. quoted at to-day, Peabody?”

“One eighty-five, sir.”

“Then that’s his price.”

“Excuse me,” said Peabody, rather nervously “for speaking of it, but I’ve been talking to Williams.  He’s an old friend of yours, Mr. Dodson, and you practically have a corner in X. Y. Z. I thought you might—­that is, I thought you might not remember that he sold you the stock at 98.  If he settles at the market price it will take every cent he has in the world and his home too to deliver the shares.”

The expression on Dodson’s face changed in an instant to one of cold ferocity mingled with inexorable cupidity.  The soul of the man showed itself for a moment like an evil face in the window of a reputable house.

“He will settle at one eighty-five,” said Dodson.  “Bolivar cannot carry double.”