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Cash cast his eyes over the stock of baby clothes which Bud gleefully unwrapped on his bunk； and pinched out a smile under his beard。
〃Well； if the kid stays till he wears out all them clothes； we'll just about have to give him a share in the company；〃 he said drily。
Bud looked up in quick jealousy。 〃What's mine's his； and I own a half interest in both claims。 I guess that'll feed himif they pan out anything；〃 he retorted。 〃Come here； Boy； and let's try this suit on。 Looks pretty small to memarked three year； but I reckon they don't grow 'em as husky as you； back where they make all these clothes。〃
〃Yeah。 But you ought to put it in writing； Bud。 S'pose anything happened to us bothand it might。 Mining's always got its risky side； even cutting out sickness； which we've had a big sample of right this winter。 Well； the kid oughta have some security in case anything did happen。 Now〃
Bud looked thoughtfully down at the fuzzy yellow head that did not come much above his knee。
〃Well； how yuh going to do anything like that without giving it away that we've got him？ Besides； what name'd we give him in the company？ No； sir； Cash； he gets what I've got； and I'll smash any damn man that tries to get it away from him。 But we can't get out any legal papers〃
〃Yeah。 But we can make our wills； can't we？ And I don't know where you get the idea； Bud； that you've got the whole say about him。 We're pardners； ain't we？ Share and share alike。 Mines； mules； grubkidsequal shares goes。〃
〃That's where you're dead wrong。 Mines and mules and grub is all right； but when it comes to this old Lovin Man； whywho was it found him； for gosh sake？〃
〃Aw； git out！〃 Cash growled。 〃Don't you reckon I'd have grabbed him off that squaw as quick as you did？ I've humored you along； Bud； and let you hog him nights； and feed him and wash his clothes； and I ain't kicked none； have I？ But when it comes to prope'ty〃
〃You ain't goin' to horn in there； neither。 Anyway； we ain't got so darn much the kid'll miss your share； Cash。〃
〃Yeah。 All the more reason why he'll need it I don't see how you're going to stop me from willing my share where I please。 And when you come down to facts； Bud； whyyou want to recollect that I plumb forgot to report that kid； when I was in town。 And I ain't a doubt in the world but what his folks would be glad enough〃
〃Forget that stuff！〃 Bud's tone was so sharp that Lovin Child turned clear around to look up curiously into his face。 〃You know why you never reported him； doggone yuh！ You couldn't give him up no easier than I could。 And I'll tell the world to its face that if anybody gets this kid now they've pretty near got to fight for him。 It ain't right； and it ain't honest。 It's stealing to keep him； and I never stole a brass tack in my life before。 But he's mine as long as I live and can hang on to him。 And that's where I stand。 I ain't hidin' behind no kind of alibi。 The old squaw did tell me his folks was dead； but if you'd ask me； I'd say she was lying when she said it。 Chances are she stole him。 I'm sorry for his folks； supposing he's got any。 But I ain't sorry enough for 'em to give him up if I can help it。 I hope they've got more； and I hope they've gentled down by this time and are used to being without him。 Anyway； they can do without him now easier than what I can； because 。。。〃 Bud did not finish that sentence； except by picking Lovin Child up in his arms and squeezing him as hard as he dared。 He laid his face down for a minute on Lovin Child's head； and when he raised it his lashes were wet。
〃Say； old…timer； you need a hair cut。 Yuh know it？〃 he said； with a huskiness in his voice； and pulled a tangle playfully。 Then his eyes swung round defiantly to Cash。 〃It's stealing to keep him； but I can't help it。 I'd rather die right here in my tracks than give up this little ole kid。 And you can take that as it lays； because I mean it。〃
Cash sat quiet for a minute or two； staring down at the floor。 〃Yeah。 I guess there's two of us in that fix；〃 he observed in his dry way； lifting his eyebrows while he studied a broken place in the side of his overshoe。 〃All the more reason why we should protect the kid； ain't it？ My idea is that we ought to both of us make our wills right here and now。 Each of us to name the other for guardeen； in case of accident； and each one picking a name for the kid； and giving him our share in the claims and anything else we may happen to own。〃 He stopped abruptly； his jaw sagging a little at some unpleasant thought。
〃I don't knowcome to think of it； I can't just leave the kid all my property。 II've got a kid of my own； and if she's aliveI ain't heard anything of her for fifteen years and more； but if she's alive she'd come in for a share。 She's a woman grown by this time。 Her mother died when she was a baby。 I married the woman I hired to take care of her and the house like a fool。 When we parted； she took the kid with her。 She did think a lot of her； I'll say that much for her； and that's all I can say in her favor。 I drifted around and lost track of 'em。 Old woman； she married again； and I heard that didn't pan out； neither。 Anyway； she kept the girl； and gave her the care and schooling that I couldn't give。 I was a drifter。
〃Well； she can bust the will if I leave her out； yuh see。 And if the old woman gets a finger in the pie； it'll be busted； all right。 I can write her down for a hundred dollars perviding she don't contest。 That'll fix it。 And the rest goes to the kid here。 But I want him to have the use of my name； understand。 Something… or…other Markham Moore ought to suit all hands well enough。〃
Bud； holding Lovin Child on his knees； frowned a little at first。 But when he looked at Cash； and caught the wistfulness in his eyes； he surrendered warm…heartedly。
〃A couple of old he…hens like uswe need a chick to look after；〃 he said whimsically。 〃I guess Markham Moore ought to be good enough for most any kid。 And if it ain't； by gosh； we'll make it good enough！ If I ain't been all I should be； there's no law against straightening up。 Markham Moore goes as it lays hey； Lovins？〃 But Lovin Child had gone to sleep over his foster fathers' disposal of his future。 His little yellow head was wabbling on his limp neck； and Bud cradled him in his arms and held him so。
〃Yeah。 But what are we going to call him？〃 Methodical Cash wanted the whole matter settled at one conference； it seemed。
〃Call him？ Why； what've we been calling him； the last two months？ 〃
〃That；〃 Cash retorted； 〃depended on what devilment he was into when we called！〃
〃You said it all； that time。 I guess； come to think of it tell you what； Cash； let's call him what the kid calls himself。 That's fair enough。 He's got some say in the matter； and if he's satisfied with Lovin； we oughta be。 Lovin Markam Moore ain't half bad。 Then if he wants to change it when he grows up； he can。〃
〃Yeah。 I guess that's as good as anything。 I'd hate to see him named Cassius。 Well； now's as good a time as any to make them wills； Bud。 We oughta have a couple of witnesses； but we can act for each other； and I guess it'll pass。 You lay the kid down； and we'll write 'em and have it done with and off our minds。 I dunno I've got a couple of lots in Phoenix I'll leave to the girl。 By rights she should have 'em。 Lovins； here； 'll have my share in all mining claims； these two I'll name 'specially； because I expect them to develop into paying mines； the Blind Lodge； anyway。〃
A twinge of jealousy seized Bud。 Cash was going ahead a little too confidently in his plans for the kid。 He did not want to hurt old Cash's feelings； and of course he needed Cash's assistance if he kept Lovin Child for his own。 But Cash needn't think he was going to claim the kid himself。
〃All rightput it that way。 Only； when you're writing it down； you make it read 'child of Bud Moore' or something like that。 You can will him the moon； if you want； and you can have your name sandwiched in between his and mine。 But get this； and get it right。 He's mine； and if we ever split up； the kid goes with me。 I'll tell the world right now that this kid belongs to me； and where I go he goes。 You got that？〃
〃You don't have to beller at the top of your voice； do yuh？ 〃 snapped Cash； prying the cork out of the ink bottle with his jackknife。 〃Here's another pen point。 Tie it onto a stick or something and git to work before you git to putting it off。〃
Leaning over the table facing each other； they wrote steadily for a few minutes。 Then Bud began to flag； and finally he stopped and crumpled the sheet of tablet paper into a ball。 Cash looked up； lifted his eyebrows irritatedly； and went on with his composition。
Bud sat nibbling the end of his makeshift penholder。 The obstacle that had loomed in Cash's way and had constrained him to reveal the closed pages of his life； loomed large in Bud's way also。 Lovin Child was a near and a very dear factor in his life but when it came to sitting down calmly and setting his affairs in order for those who might be left behind； Lovin Child was not the only person he must think of。 What of his own man…child？ What of Marie？
He looked across at Cash writing steadily in his precise way； duly bequeathing his worldly goods to Lovin； owning； too