bed, just as you choose."

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not. So help me Bob! I'd
smother in here. Had the darnedest time coming on that ever
was--hotels. Little white rooms with the walls coming in on you.
Worse than rattlesnakes for keeping a man awake. Reminds me of the
hospital. Horse fell on me once and smashed me up so that I had to
be sent to get puttied up again, and I never struck such a month as
that since I was born. The doc. told me I mustn't move, but I told
him I'd chuck him out of the window if he tried to stop me, and up
I got. I'd have gone dead sure if they'd held me a week more. I
speak for the barn, Mattie, and I speak real loud; that is, I mean
to say I'm going to sleep in the barn, unless there's somebody a
heap larger than you on the premises. Now, there's no use for you
to talk--I'm going to do just as I say."

"Well, I think that's just dreadful!" said Miss Mattie. "I'd like
to know what folks will think of me to hear I turned my own cousin
out in the barn." Her voice trailed off a little at the end as the
gist of what they might say if he stayed in the house, occurred to
her. "Well," she continued, "if you're set, I suppose I can't
object." Miss Mattie was not a good hand at playing a part.

"I'm set," said Red. "Get me a blanket." As she came in with this,
he added, "Say, Mattie, could you let me have a loaf of bread?
I've got a habit of wanting something to eat in the middle of the
night."

"Certainly! Don't you want some butter with it? Here, I'll fix it
for you on a plate."

"No, don't waste dish-washing--I'll show you how to fix it." He
cut the loaf of bread in half, pulled out a portion of the soft
part and filled the hole with butter. "There we are, and nothing
to bother with afterwards."

"That's a right smart notion, Will--but you'll want a knife."

In answer he drew out a leather case from his breast pocket and
opened it. Within was knife, fork, spoon and two flat boxes for
salt and pepper. "You see I'm fixed," said he.

"Isn't that a cute trick!" she cried admiringly. "You're ready for
most anything."

"Sure," said Red. "Now, good night, old lady!" He bent down in so
natural a fashion that Miss Mattie had kissed him before she knew
what she was going to do.

Down to the barn, through the soft June evening, went Red,
whistling a Mexican love song most melodiously.

Miss Mattie stood in the half-opened door and listened. Without
was b