Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/221

 "‘We must let John W. G. win,' I whispered, after the crowd had retired, each to count his dogs and lizards.

"‘Never,' says Tib, firmly.

"‘But he holds the high justice and the low,' I remonstrated, as he fed me fresh bark. 'He is the chief.'

"‘Therefore must be kept on the frayed edge of uncertainty,' whispered Tib. 'He 'll keep us healthy so he may recoup his losses. But if he ever makes a ten-strike he'll cut us off behind the ears to cinch his gains. Draw a heap of pictures, and I'll slip in the values as proportion seems to demand,' he added, drowsily. 'It 'll be a hard day to-morrow and heavy trading.'

"By the dim light of a smoking fire I sketched animals half the night, and had the cage loaded to the muzzle when I climbed into my hammock. It seemed rather low down to tap the wires and gull the speculators, but, as Tib said, we must hold the balance of power, and feeling crooked I went to sleep.

"We had hardly finished our savory rucu when a great clamor told us the game was on, and setting his jaw to the last notch the proprietor of the Tiberius Smith & Robbers' Exchange toted the precious ticker to the door and threw out his chest.

"It was a gallant scene to see the mob crowding