"I've got an idea. Let's play Houston."
"But we've just been there," said Stoddart.
"Never mind," said Charles. "I'll fix it."
The next day he turned up at Houston and went to Colonel McPherson.
"What, you here again?" he asked.
"We've come back," replied Charles with ready resource, "to play a special benefit for your School Teachers' Association."
The old man chuckled. "Well, if you can get 'em in the house you are all right."
Charles was already planning a series of benefits for volunteer firemen and widows and orphans in future towns. It was a case of "anything to get a crowd." He hesitated a moment, then faced the old man with his winning smile and said:
"Colonel, I wish you would let me have fifty dollars to send back to the company."
"All right, my boy; there's the safe. Help yourself. Hurry up. Let us have a game of casino."