But Luck, although he had started the story, already was slipping away from the present and was trying to peer into the future.

He did not even hear what Applehead was saying to keep the boys in a roar of mirth.

He was mentally reckoning the number of days since he had wired his order for a C.O.D.shipment of negative to be rushed to Albuquerque.

Two days in Los Angeles, getting ready for the venture; two days on the way to Applehead's ranch, one day here,--five days altogether.

He had told them to rush the order.