Then in that desperate moment I broke down and confessed all toBunch. I told him how my haughty spirit disdained a tip and how inthe pride of my heart I doped the cards myself and fell in thewell. I told him of my feverish desire to beat the Bookmakers downthrough the earth till they yelled for mercy, and I told him of mypitiful dilemma and how I had to build a home in the country beforenoon to-morrow or do a hound trot to the Bad lands.

Then Bunch began to laugh--a long, loud, discordant chuckle whichended in, "John, I'll help you make good!" and then I began to situp and notice skinnygs.

"I'm away head of this pitty-pat game at the Merry-go-Round," Bunchwent on, "and it so happens that recently I peeled the wrapper offmy roll and swapped it for a country home for my sister and herdaughter. She's a youthful widow, my sister is, and one of theloveliest little ladies that ever came over the hill. And she hasa daughter that's a regular plate of peaches and cream."