with all his gentleness of manner, was unapproachable. He belonged to
another world, and yet Shock yearned over him with a tenderness
inexplicable to himself. The Kid gave him no opening. There was a kind
of gay defiance in his bearing, as if he had read Shock's heart and
were determined to keep him at arm's length. Instinctively Shock knew
that he must wait his opportunity.

"Well, guess we'd better turn in," suggested Ike. "Can you two bunk
together? That bed'll hold you both, I guess."

"No, thanks," said Shock decidedly. "That is your bed. I'll spread my
blankets on the floor."

"In this country," said Stanton, "we give the stranger the bed, so you
need not scruple to turn Ike out of his. Ike and I will take the floor."

"Not this time," said Shock firmly. "I am thankful enough for shelter,
without taking a man's bed. Besides," he added, suddenly remembering,
"Ike needs his bed to-night, after his sick turn."

"Yes, by Jove! By the way," exclaimed Stanton, "what happened, Ike?"

"A sudden and unexpected predisposition which takes me now and then,"
turning his back upon Shock and solemnly winking at The Kid; "but I
recover just as quickly, and when I do I'm as slick as ever, and
slicker. These here turns work off a lot of bad blood, I guess."

During his speech he continued winking at The Kid. That young gentleman
gazed at him in amazed silence. Gradually, a light broke in upon him.

"Look here, Ike, what in thunder do you mean?"

"I say, boss," said Ike persuasively, "just go easy. You oughn't to
excite yourself. 'Taint good for you, and 'taint good for me, either.
My doctor says so. I wouldn't persecute your enquiries at this late
hour of the night."

Ike's gravity was imperturbable.

"Well, I be blanked! I beg your pardon, Mr. Macgregor. Ike, you're a
cool one. You've got the nerve of--"

Here The Kid began to laugh, and Shock, all unsuspecting of Ike's
scheme for getting his boss out of the clutches of his spoilers, gazed
from the one to the other with an air of such absolute perplexity that
The Kid went off into immoderate fits of laughter. Ike's gravity
remained unbroken.

"All the same, boss," he said, "you want to keep an eye on that outfit.
They'll get even. That man Crawley and the Inspector aint goin' to rest
easy where they are. Marks like what you put on 'em burn to the bone."

"They cannot hurt me, Ike," said the Kid lightly, "and I think they
will be afraid to try. But Mr. Macgregor