Bud buried his face in his hands, the tears trickling through his fingers, although he fought strongly against showing his weakness.
Slim rose and stepped to his side, laying his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Mebbe she won't have to know. Buck, he's dead, and only you and I know."
Bud looked at the speaker in amazement. A lovable smile crept over Slim's face. "I'm goin'," he said, "to slip you a new deck, an' give you a fresh deal. That was part my money that was stole. I never came back at the county fer it. Buck, he's paid half. I'll let 'em all think it was the whole. I'll put in a thousan' I have at home, that I was savin' to buy in with the Triangle B, in case I don't git elected nex' time. So, Bud, I'm going to lend a thousan' o' this to you, just to give you a chance at that little home."
"You're the whitest man I ever knew!" cried Bud.
"I reckon I ain't colored, 'cept a little red mite on top," laughed Slim. He disliked any show of feeling by the boy over the offer he had made.
"But I can't take your money," Bud protested.
"Yes, you can," assured Slim. "You pay it back when you get on your feet again. I'm going to take your word."
Slim's generosity overwhelmed the boy. "Take my word!" he cried.
Slim laid his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Yes," he declared, "You've made your first bad break, but you've had your first lesson. An' you ain't going to forget it," he added emphatically.
"And Polly?" he faltered.