"His wife! Is he married? It must be something new."
"It is. He was married only a short time ago to a woman who almost worships him. She did all she could to keep him from going out into his old life again, but she could not."
"You can go with me!" said the other, abruptly, after a keen and searching look in the traveler's face.
"What is your name?"
"Willie Pond."
"Rather a deep Pond, if I know what water is," said the auburn-haired man, to himself, and then he asked, in a louder tone, "have you horse and arms?"
"No; I just came on the train from the East. But there is money–buy me a good horse, saddle, and bridle. I'll see to getting arms."
And Mr. Willie Pond handed the other a five-hundred dollar treasury note.
"You don't ask my name, and you trust me with money as if you knew I was honest."
"You'll tell me your name when you feel like it!" was the rejoinder. "As to your honesty, if I think you are safe to travel with, you're safe to trust my money with!"