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188 his practical experience had helped to build up the already rising fortunes of the partners, what else, in gratitude, could they do but offer him a share in the station, what more natural than that he should accept it with avidity? But Dodge positively declined the partnership. The reasons he offered were these:—

"You see," he said, "when you amalgamated my cattle, annexed my station, and got me out of the hands of these infernal vampires who were bleeding me slowly to death, you did me a service I can never repay."

"Stuff and nonsense!" Slinger exclaimed.

"Never interrupt a gentleman in his speech," Dodge said with mock solemnity. "Well, I have been able to do you some little good in return, and we are on more equal terms. I perceive great changes are about to take place; for the future I should be only in the way. I shall soon make tracks."

"And if you do," said Slinger with energy, "I'll follow you to the end of creation, I'll upbraid you with ingratitude night and day, and if you go to the jumping-off place I'm after you, mind that. Here's Raymond and I have cut out all our plans, and you want to come in and spoil everything, you ungrateful old creature: give me your hand: we will hear nothing more to the contrary, you shall come in as a partner."

"Here's a pretty position for a man to be in," said Dodge; "why how many more partners do you want to take? I hope you don't find" ———— and Dodge whispered the name in Slinger's ear, "so unwilling as I am."

"Hush! " Slinger replied, "its too serious a matter to joke about."

"Don't you make such a mess of it as I did," Dodge continued, unheeding the warning. "I was once in love, a good many years ago though, but you see I have not lost all memory