; never more so than
now; the same bein' a mighty sight more'n I could say of any of you-all
an' stick to the trooth.'

"'Then you does know, Missis Rucker,' says Enright, 'the secret that's
gnawin' at Dave.'

"'Know it,' replies Misses Rucker, 'of course, I knows it. But I don't
propose to discuss it none with you tarrapins. I ain't got no patience
with sech dolts! Now that you-all is yere, however, I'll give you
notice that to-morry you can begin to do your own cookin' till you
hears further word from me. I'm goin' to be otherwise an' more
congenially engaged. Most likely I'll be back in my kitchen ag'in in a
day or two; but I makes no promises. An' ontil sech time as I shows
up, you-all can go scuffle for yourse'fs. I've got more important
dooties jest now on my hands than cookin' chuck for sots.'

"As Missis Rucker speaks up mighty vigorous, an' as none of us has the
nerve to ask her further an' take the resk of turnin' loose her temper,
we lines out ag'in for the Red Light no cl'arer than what we was.

"'I could ask her more questions,' says Enright, 'but, gents, I didn't
deem it wise. Missis Rucker is a most admirable character; but I'm
sooperstitious about crowdin' her too clost. Like Boggs says about
opals, thar's plenty of bad luck lurkin' about Missis Rucker's environs
if you only goes about its deevelopment the right way.'

"'The sityooation is too many for me,' says Boggs, goin' up to the bar
for a drink, 'I gives it up. I ain't got a notion left, onless it is
that Dave's runnin' for office; that is, I might entertain sech a
thought only thar ain't no office.'

"'The next day Missis Rucker abandons her post; an' we tharupon finds
that feedin' ourse'fs keeps us busy an' we don't have much time to
discuss Dave. Also, Dave disappears;--in fact, both Dave an' Missis
Rucker fades from view.

"It's about fo'rth drink time the evenin' of the third day, an' most of
us is in the Red Light. Thar's a gloom overhangs us like a fog. Mebby
it's the oncertainties which envelops Dave, mebby it's because Missis
Rucker's done deserted an' left us to rustle for ourse'fs or starve.
Most of us is full of present'ments that something's due to happen.

"All at once, an' onexpected, Dave walks in. A sigh of relief goes up,
for the glance we gives him shows he's all right--sane as
Enright--clothed an' in his right mind as set fo'th in holy writ.
Also, his countenance is a wrinkle of glee.

"'Gents,' says Dav