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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 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 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。〃
〃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 and went down…stairs。
He found young Bill on guard over a table for four； with all the chairs
tilted against it as warning to strangers。 No one sat at any other table
or came into the room； for it was late； and the place quite emptied of
breakfasters； and the several entertained waiters had gathered behind
Billy's important…looking back。 Lin provided a thorough meal； and Billy
pronounced the flannel cakes superior to flapjacks； which were not upon
the bill of fare。
〃I'd like to see you often；〃 said he。 〃I'll come and see you if you don't
live too far。〃
〃That's the trouble；〃 said the cow…puncher。 〃I do。 Awful far。〃 He stared
out of the window。
〃Well； I might come some time。 I wish you'd write me a letter。 Can you
write？〃 〃What's that？ Can I write？ Oh yes。〃
〃I can write； an' I can read too。 I've been to school in Sidney；
Nebraska； an' Magaw； Kansas； an' Salt Lakethat's the finest town except
Denver。〃
Billy fell into that cheerful strain of comment which； unreplied to； yet
goes on contented and self…sustaining； while Mr。 McLean gave amiable
signs of assent； but c