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now if you say it's any sense。〃
Mr。 McLean sat down in a chair。 〃Don't yu' do it now；〃 said he。
〃You wouldn't like mother；〃 Billy continued。 〃You can keep that。〃 He
came to Lin and placed the arrow…head in his hands； standing beside him。
〃Do you like birds' eggs？ I collect them。 I got twenty…five kindssage…hen；
an' blue grouse； an' willow…grouse； an' lots more kinds harderbut I
couldn't bring all them from Laramie。 I brought the magpie's； though。 D'
you care to see a magpie egg？ Well； you stay to…morrow an' I'll show you
that en' some other things I got the engine…man lets me keep there； for
there's boys that would steal an egg。 An' I could take you where we could
fire that pistol。 Bet you don't know what that is！〃
He brought out a small tin box shaped like a thimble； in which were
things that rattled。
Mr。 McLean gave it up。
〃That's kinni…kinnic seed。 You can have that； for I got some more with
the engine…man。〃
Lin received this second token also； and thanked the giver for it。 His
first feeling had been to prevent the boy's parting with his treasures； but
something that came not from the polish of manners and experience made
him know that he should take them。 Billy talked away； laying bare his
little soul； the street boy that was not quite come made place for the child
that was not quite gone； and unimportant words and confidences dropped
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from him disjointed as he climbed to the knee of Mr。 McLean； and
inadvertently took that cow…puncher for some sort of parent he had not
hitherto met。 It lasted but a short while； however； for he went to sleep in
the middle of a sentence； with his head upon Lin's breast。 The man held
him perfectly still； because he had not the faintest notion that Billy would
be impossible to disturb。 At length he spoke to him； suggesting that bed
might prove more comfortable； and； finding how it was； rose and
undressed the boy and laid him between the sheets。 The arms and legs
seemed aware of the moves required of them； and stirred conveniently；
and directly the head was upon the pillow the whole small frame burrowed
down； without the opening of an eye or a change in the breathing。 Lin
stood some time by the bedside； with his eyes on the long； curling lashes
and the curly hair。 Then he glanced craftily at the door of the room； and at
himself in the looking…glass。 He stooped and kissed Billy on the forehead；
and； rising from that； gave himself a hangdog stare in the mirror； and soon
in his own bed was sleeping the sound sleep of health。
He was faintly roused by the church bells； and lay still； lingering with
his sleep； his eyes closed； and his thoughts unshaped。 As he became
slowly aware of the morning； the ringing and the light reached him； and he
waked wholly； and； still lying quiet； considered the strange room filled
with the bells and the sun of the winter's day。 〃Where have I struck now？〃
he inquired； and as last night returned abruptly upon his mind； he raised
himself on his arm。
There sat Responsibility in a chair； washed clean and dressed；
watching him。
〃You're awful late；〃 said Responsibility。 〃But I weren't a…going without
telling you good…bye。〃
〃Go？〃 exclaimed Lin。 〃Go where？ Yu' surely ain't leavin' me to eat
breakfast alone？〃 The cow…puncher made his voice very plaintive。 Set
Responsibility free after all his trouble to catch him？ This was more than
he could do！
〃I've got to go。 If I'd thought you'd want for me to staywhy； you said
you was a…going by the early train！〃
〃But the durned thing's got away on me；〃 said Lin； smiling sweetly
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from the bed。
〃If I hadn't a…promised them〃
〃Who？〃
〃Sidney Ellis and Pete Goode。 Why； you know them； you grubbed
with them。〃
〃Shucks！〃
〃We're a…going to have fun to…day。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃For it's Christmas； an' we've bought some good cigars； an' Pete says
he'll learn me sure。 O' course I've smoked some； you know。 But I'd just as
leaves stayed with you if I'd only knowed sooner。 I wish you lived here。
Did you smoke whole big cigars when you was beginning？〃
〃Do you like flapjacks and maple syrup？〃 inquired the artful McLean。
〃That's what I'm figuring on inside twenty minutes。〃
〃Twenty minutes！ If they'd wait〃
〃See here； Bill。 They've quit expecting yu'； don't yu' think？ I'd ought to
waked； yu' see； but I slep' and slep'； and kep' yu' from meetin' your
engagements； yu' seefor you couldn't go； of course。 A man couldn't treat
a man that way now； could he？〃
〃Course he couldn't；〃 said Billy； brightening。
〃And they wouldn't wait； yu' see。 They wouldn't fool away Christmas；
that only comes onced a year； kickin' their heels and sayin' 'Where's Billy？'
They'd say； 'Bill has sure made other arrangements； which he'll explain to
us at his leesyure。' And they'd skip with the cigars。〃
The advocate paused； effectively； and from his bolster regarded Billy
with a convincing eye。
〃That's so；〃 said Billy。
〃And where would yu' be then； Bill？ In the street； out of friends； out of
Christmas； and left both ways； no tobaccer and no flapjacks。 Now； Bill；
what do yu' say to us putting up a Christmas deal together？ Just you and
me？〃
〃I'd like that；〃 said Billy。 〃Is it all day？〃
〃I was thinkin' of all day；〃 said Lin。 〃I'll not make yu' do anything yu'd
rather not。〃
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〃Ah； they can smoke without me；〃 said Billy； with sudden acrimony。
〃I'll see 'em to…morro'。〃
〃That's you！〃 cried Mr。 McLean。 〃Now； Bill； you hustle down and tell
them to keep a table for us。 I'll get my clothes on and follow yu'。〃
The boy went； and Mr。 McLean procured hot water and dressed
himself； tying his scarf with great care。 〃Wished I'd a clean shirt；〃 said he。
〃But I don't look very bad。 Shavin' yesterday afternoon was a good move。〃
He picked up the arrow…head and the kinni…kinnic； and was particular to
store them in his safest pocket。 〃I ain't sure whether you're crazy or not；〃
said he to the man in the looking…glass。 〃I ain't never been sure。〃 And he
slammed the door an