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seemed about as much as he knew himself。
〃I'll be goshed；〃 he thought； 〃if I'd caught on to half that when I was
streakin' around in short pants！ Maybe they grow up quicker now。〃 But
now the Country Mouse perceived Billy's eager and attentive
apprenticeship。 〃Hello； boys！〃 he said； 〃that theatre's got a big start on us。〃
They had all forgotten he had said anything about theatre； and other
topics left their impatient minds； while the Country Mouse paid the bill
and asked to be guided to the Opera…house。 〃This man here will look out
for your blackin' and truck； and let yu' have it in the morning。〃
They were very late。 The spectacle had advanced far into passages of
the highest thrill； and Denver's eyes were riveted upon a ship and some
icebergs。 The party found its seats during several beautiful lime…light
effects； and that remarkable fly…buzzing of violins which is proounced so
helpful in times of peril and sentiment。 The children of Captain Grant had
been tracking their father all over the equator and other scenic spots； and
now the north pole was about to impale them。 The Captain's youngest
child； perceiving a hummock rushing at them with a sudden motion；
loudly shouted； 〃Sister； the ice is closing in！〃 and she replied； chastely；
〃Then let us pray。〃 It was a superb tableau： the ice split； and the sun rose
and joggled at once to the zenith。 The act…drop fell； and male Denver；
wrung to its religious deeps； went out to the rum…shop。
Of course Mr。 McLean and his party did not do this。 The party had
applauded exceedingly the defeat of the elements； and the leader； with
Towhead； discussed the probable chances of the ship's getting farther
south in the next act。 Until lately Billy's doubt of the cow…puncher had
lingered； but during this intermission whatever had been holding out in
him seemed won； and in his eyes； that he turned stealthily upon his
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unconscious； quiet neighbor； shone the beginnings of hero…worship。
〃Don't you think this is splendid？〃 said he。
〃Splendid；〃 Lin replied； a trifle remotely。
〃Don't you like it when they all get balled up and get out that way？〃
〃Humming；〃 said Lin。
〃Don't you guess it's just girls； though； that do that？〃
〃What； young fellow？〃
〃Why； all that prayer…saying an' stuff。〃
〃I guess it must be。〃
〃She said to do it when the ice scared her； an' of course a man had to
do what she wanted him。〃
〃Sure。〃
〃Well； do you believe they'd 'a' done it if she hadn't been on that boat；
and clung around an' cried an' everything； an' made her friends feel bad？〃
〃I hardly expect they would；〃 replied the honest Lin； and then；
suddenly mindful of Billy； 〃except there wasn't nothin' else they could
think of；〃 he added； wishing to speak favorably of the custom。
〃Why； that chunk of ice weren't so awful big anyhow。 I'd 'a' shoved her
off with a pole。 Wouldn't you？〃
〃Butted her like a ram；〃 exclaimed Mr。 McLean。
〃Well； I don't say my prayers any more。 I told Mr。 Perkins I wasn't a…
going to； an' heI think he is a flubdub anyway。〃
〃I'll bet he is！〃 said Lin； sympathetically。 He was scarcely a prudent
guardian。
〃I told him straight； an' he looked at me an' down he flops on his knees。
An' he made 'em all flop； but I told him I didn't care for them putting up
any camp…meeting over me； an' he says； 'I'll lick you；' an' I says； 'Dare you
to！' I told him mother kep' a…licking me for nothing； an' I'd not pray for her；
not in Sunday…school or anywheres else。 Do you pray much？〃
〃No；〃 replied Lin； uneasily。
〃There！ I told him a man didn't； an' he said then a man went to hell。
'You lie； father ain't going to hell；' I says； and you'd ought to heard the first
class laugh right out loud； girls an' boys。 An' he was that mad！ But I didn't
care。 I came here with fifty cents。〃
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〃Yu' must have felt like a millionaire。〃
〃Ah； I felt all right！ I bought papers an' sold 'em； an' got more an'
saved； ant got my box an' blacking outfit。 I weren't going to be licked by
her just because she felt like it； an' she feeling like it most any time。
Lemme see your pistol。〃
〃You wait；〃 said Lin。 〃After this show is through I'll put it on you。〃
〃Will you； honest？ Belt an' everything？ Did you ever shoot a bear？〃
〃Lord！ lots。〃
〃Honest？ Silver…tips？〃
〃Silver…tips； cinnamon； black； and I roped a cub onced。〃
〃O…h！ I never shot a bear。〃
〃You'd ought to try it。〃
〃I'm a…going to。 I'm a…going to camp out in the mountains。 I'd like to
see you when you camp。 I'd like to camp with you。 Mightn't I some time？〃
Billy had drawn nearer to Lin； and was looking up at him adoringly。
〃You bet！〃 said Lin； and though he did not； perhaps； entirely mean this；
it was with a curiously softened face that he began to look at Billy。 As with
dogs and his horse； so always he played with what children he met the
few in his sage…brush world； but this was ceasing to be quite play for him；
and his hand went to the boy's shoulder。
〃Father took me camping with him once； the time mother was off。
Father gets awful drunk； too。 I've quit Laramie for good。〃
Lin sat up； and his hand gripped the boy。 〃Laramie！〃 said he； almost
shouting it。 〃Yu'yu'is your name Lusk？〃
But the boy had shrunk from him instantly。 〃You're not going to take
me home？〃 he piteously wailed。
〃Heaven and heavens！〃 murmured Lin McLean。 〃So you're her kid！〃
He relaxed again； down in his chair； his legs stretched their straight
length below the chair in front。 He was waked from his bewilderment by a
brushing under him； and there was young Billy diving for escape to the
aisle； like the cornered city mouse that he was。 Lin nipped that poor little
attempt and had the limp Billy seated inside again before the two in
discussion beyond had seen anything。 He had said not a word to the boy；
and now watched his unhappy eyes seizing upon the various exits and
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dispositions of the theatre； nor could he imagine anything to tell him that
should restore the perished confidence。 〃Why did yu' lead him off？〃 he
asked himself unexpectedly； and found that he did not seem to know； but
as he watched the restless and estranged runaway he grew more and more
sorrowful。 〃I just hate him to think that of me；〃 he reflected。 The curtain
rose； and he saw Billy make up his mind to wait until they should all be
going out in the crowd。 While the children of Captain Grant grew hotter
and hotter upon their father's geographic trail； Lin sat saying to himself a
number of contradictions。 〃He's nothing to me； what's any of them to me？〃
Driven to bay by his bewilderment； he restated the facts of the past。 〃Why；
she'd deserted him and Lusk before she'd ever laid eyes on me。 I needn't to
bother myself。 He wasn't never even my step…kid。〃 The past； however；
brought no guidance。 〃Lord； what's the thing to do about this？ If I had any
home This is a stinkin' world in some respects；〃 said Mr。 McLean； aloud；
unknowingly。 The lady in the chair beneath which the cow…puncher had
his legs nudged her husband。 They took it for emotion over the sad fortune
of Captain Grant； and their backs shook。 Presently each turned； and saw
the singular man with untamed； wide…open eyes glowering at the stage；
and both backs shook again。
Once more his hand was laid on Billy。 〃Say！〃 The boy glanced at him；
and quickly away。
〃Look at me； and listen。〃
Billy swervingly obeyed。
〃I ain't after yu'； and never was。 This here's your business； not mine。
Are yu' listenin' good？〃
The boy made a nod； and Lin proceeded； whispering： 〃You've got no
call to believe what I say to yu'yu've been lied to； I guess； pretty often。
So I'll not stop yu' runnin' and hidin'； and I'll never give