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172 dirt out of the ground and then take it when It's all nice and clean and minted, Billy? Well, I'll advance what you want if you are sure it won't cut in on the other game."

"I'll guarantee that. And you're still sure you want me in on your proposition?"

"Doubly sure!" Bobbie Carruthers' smile was entirely joyous. "Work has got to be started right away, options grabbed you know, and I can't touch it right now. And here's the reason, old Billy boy, the double reason. Look at it!"

From his wallet he had drawn a very bad photograph. Twins and no doubt of it; twins that couldn't be a week old old already their photograph, so vain about them was their young father, was pretty well worn out.

"How's Sylvia?" asked Steele.

"Bully. So's Bobbie the Third; so's Sylvia the Second. They're at the place out at San Mateo; I'll be taking you out tonight. And they are the reason. We're striking out southward just as soon as the Doctor will let us go, and in the meantime the Twins won't go to sleep unless they can hold my thumbs! It's a fact, Bill! You wouldn't believe it, but it's a fact! And you wouldn't believe how smart the little devils are; know me as soon as I come into the room."

Steele sighed. He was sincerely glad that they were Twins since that pleased Bobbie and Sylvia, glad that they were wise children according to the proverb and that they liked to hold their father's thumbs, but …

"Got their eyes open already, I see," he offered to