e him get you the
book. But, Dannie, he wouldn't drink with us, but he stayed to iducate
us up a little. That little spool man, Dannie, iducatin' Jones of the
gravel gang, and Bingham of the Standard, and York of the 'lectric
railway, and Haines of the timber gang, not to mintion the champeen
rat-catcher of the Wabash."

Jimmy hugged himself, and rocked on the edge of the bed.

"Oh, I can just see it, Dannie," he cried. "I can just see it now! I
was pretty drunk, but I wasn't too drunk to think of it, and it came to
me sudden like."

Dannie stared at Jimmy wide-eyed, while he explained the details, and
then he too began to laugh, and the longer he laughed the funnier it
grew.

"I've got to start," said Jimmy. "I've an awful afternoon's work. I
must find him some rubber boots. He's to have the inestimable privilege
of carryin' me gun, Dannie, and have the first shot at the coons,
fifty, I'm thinkin' I said. And if I don't put some frills on his cute
little coat! Oh, Dannie, it will break the heart of me if he don't wear
that pleated coat!"

Dannie wiped his eyes.

"Come on to the kitchen," he said, "I've something ready fra ye to eat.
Wash, while I dish it."

"I wish to Heaven you were a woman, Dannie," said Jimmy. "A fellow
could fall in love with you, and marry you with some satisfaction.
Crimminy, but I'm hungry!"

Jimmy ate greedily, and Dannie stepped about setting the cabin to
rights. It lacked many feminine touches that distinguished Jimmy's as
the abode of a woman; but it was neat and clean, and there seemed to be
a place where everything belonged.

"Now, I'm off," said Jimmy, rising. "I'll take your gun, because I
ain't goin' to see Mary till I get back."

"Oh, Jimmy, dinna do that!" pleaded Dannie. "I want my gun. Go and get
your own, and tell her where ye are going and what ye are going to do.
She'd feel less lonely."

"I know how she would feel better than you do," retorted Jimmy. "I am
not going. If you won't give me your gun, I'll borrow one; or have all
my fun spoiled."

Dannie took down the shining gun and passed it over. Jimmy instantly
relented. He smiled an old boyish smile, that always caught Dannie in
his softest spot.

"You are the bist frind I have on earth, Dannie," he said winsomely.
"You are a man worth tying to. By gum, there's NOTHING I wouldn't do
for you! Now go on, like the good fellow you are, and fix it up with
Mary."

So Dannie started for the wood pile. In summer he