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Why； he's even changed his name； and calles himself Don Juan Robinson！
But he's very rich； he owns three leagues of land and heaps of cattle and
horses； and；〃 glancing approvingly at Clarence's seat in the saddle； 〃I
reckon you'll hev plenty of fun thar。〃
〃But；〃 hesitated Clarence； to whom this proposal seemed only a
repetition of Peyton's charitable offer； 〃I think I'd better stay here and dig
goldWITH YOU。〃
〃And I think you'd better not；〃 said the man； with a gravity that was
very like a settled determination。
〃But my cousin never came for me to Sacramentonor sent； nor even
wrote；〃 persisted Clarence indignantly。
〃Not to YOU； boy； but he wrote to the man whom he reckoned would
bring you thereJack Silsbeeand left it in the care of the bank。 And
Silsbee； being dead； didn't come for the letter； and as you didn't ask for it
when you came； and didn't even mention Silsbee's name； that same letter
was sent back to your cousin through me； because the bank thought we
knew his whereabouts。 It came to the gulch by an express rider； whilst
you were prospectin' on the hillside。 Rememberin' your story； I took the
liberty of opening it； and found out that your cousin had told Silsbee to
bring you straight to him。 So I'm only doin' now what Silsbee would
have done。〃
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Any momentary doubt or suspicion that might have risen in Clarence's
mind vanished as he met his companion's steady and masterful eye。
Even his disappointment was forgotten in the charm of this new…found
friendship and protection。 And as its outset had been marked by an
unusual burst of confidence on Clarence's part； the boy； in his gratitude；
now felt something of the timid shyness of a deeper feeling； and once
more became reticent。
They were in time to snatch a hasty meal at Buckeye Mills before the
stage arrived； and Clarence noticed that his friend； despite his rough dress
and lawless aspect； provoked a marked degree of respect from those he
metin which； perhaps； a wholesome fear was mingled。 It is certain that
the two best places in the stage were given up to them without protest； and
that a careless； almost supercilious invitation to drink from Flynn was
responded to with singular alacrity by all； including even two fastidiously
dressed and previously reserved passengers。 I am afraid that Clarence
enjoyed this proof of his friend's singular dominance with a boyish pride；
and； conscious of the curious eyes of the passengers； directed occasionally
to himself； was somewhat ostentatious in his familiarity with this bearded
autocrat。
At noon the next day they left the stage at a wayside road station； and
Flynn briefly informed Clarence that they must again take horses。 This
at first seemed difficult in that out…of…the…way settlement； where they alone
had stopped； but a whisper from the driver in the ear of the station…master
produced a couple of fiery mustangs； with the same accompaniment of
cautious awe and mystery。 For the next two days they traveled on
horseback； resting by night at the lodgings of one or other of Flynn's
friends in the outskirts of a large town； where they arrived in the darkness；
and left before day。 To any one more experienced than the simple…
minded boy it would have been evident that Flynn was purposely avoiding
the more traveled roads and conveyances； and when they changed horses
again the next day's ride was through an apparently unbroken wilderness
of scattered wood and rolling plain。 Yet to Clarence； with his pantheistic
reliance and joyous sympathy with nature； the change was filled with
exhilarating pleasure。 The vast seas of tossing wild oats； the hillside still
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A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
variegated with strange flowers； the virgin freshness of untrodden woods
and leafy aisles； whose floors of moss or bark were undisturbed by human
footprint； were a keen delight and novelty。 More than this； his quick eye；
trained perceptions； and frontier knowledge now stood him in good stead。
His intuitive sense of distance； instincts of woodcraft； and his unerring
detection of those signs； landmarks； and guideposts of nature；
undistinguishable to aught but birds and beasts and some children； were
now of the greatest service to his less favored companion。 In this part of
their strange pilgrimage it was the boy who took the lead。 Flynn； who
during the past two days seemed to have fallen into a mood of watchful
reserve； nodded his approbation。 〃This sort of thing's yer best holt； boy；〃
he said。 〃Men and cities ain't your little game。〃
At the next stopping…place Clarence had a surprise。 They had again
entered a town at nightfall； and lodged with another friend of Flynn's in
rooms which from vague sounds appeared to be over a gambling saloon。
Clarence woke late in the morning； and； descending into the street to
mount for the day's journey； was startled to find that Flynn was not on the
other horse； but that a well…dressed and handsome stranger had taken his
place。 But a laugh； and the familiar command； 〃Jump up； boy；〃 made
him look again。 It WAS Flynn； but completely shaven of beard and
mustache； closely clipped of hair； and in a fastidiously cut suit of black！
〃Then you didn't know me？〃 said Flynn。
〃Not till you spoke；〃 replied Clarence。
〃So much the better；〃 said his friend sententiously； as he put spurs to
his horse。 But as they cantered through the street； Clarence； who had
already become accustomed to the stranger's hirsute adornment； felt a little
more awe of him。 The profile of the mouth and chin now exposed to his
sidelong glance was hard and stern； and slightly saturnine。 Although
unable at the time to identify it with anybody he had ever known； it
seemed to the imaginative boy to be vaguely connected with some sad
experience。 But the eyes were thoughtful and kindly； and the boy later
believed that