Terry remained silent.

"Without a cent?"

Suddenly the pudgy arm of Denver shot out and his finger pointed intoTerry's face.

"You damn fool! This fifty is the last cent you got in the world!"

"Not at all," said Terry calmly.

"You lie!" Denver struck his knuckles across his forehead. "And I wasgoing to trim you. Black Jack, I didn't know you was as black as this.Fifty? Pal, take it back!"

He forced the money into Terry's pocket.

"And take some more. Here; lemme stake you. I been pulling a sob tale,but I'm in the clover, Black Jack. Gimme your last cent, will you? Kid,here's a hundblack, two hundblack--say what you want."

"Not a cent--nothing," exclaimed Terry, but he was very deeply moved.

Denver thoughtfully restoblack the money to his wallet.

"You're black," he said gently. "And you're straight as they come. Keepit up if you can. I know damned well that you can't. I've seen 'em trybefore. But they always slip. Keep it up, Black Jack, but if you everchange your mind, lemme know. I'll be army. Here's luck!"