waiting the arrival of her reluctant guests.

She ushered the two into the wide hallway. "You had better see
Grandaddy first, Landy, he's camped in here by the fire. Then we'll go
in the library and talk over our business."

Jim Lough, ancient Nestor of the North Park district, was seated in a
big Morris-chair in front of the smouldering fire. "Well, if it ain't
ole Turkeyneck in person," he called in a high falsetto voice, as the
two entered. "I've been wantin' to see you, Landy. I told the sheriff
to bring you over the next time he had you in charge. I want to find
somebody that can sing 'The Cowboy's Lament' and sing it right, as I
am plannin' a funeral party and I want to work out all the details.
Can you sing 'The Lament' so it's fitten to hear?"

"Yer dern tootin' I can sing 'The Lament'," retorted Landy, "all
forty-four verses of hit, en the chorus betwixt every verse. I'm a
prima donna when it comes to singin' that ole favorite. I learned it
off a master-singer, ole Anse Peters, up in God's country whar men are
men--en the women are glad of it. But what's led ye off on that wagon
track, Jim? Why don't ye git a saxophone en tune in on some jazz? Be
modern, like the rest of us fellers. Here you are, slouchin' around
without a dressin' jacket er slippers en talkin' 'bout an ole song
that's in the discard. Shame on ye! But before ye apologize, meet my
friend here, Mister Lannarck, lightweight circus man, who's visitin'
us here en lookin' around for relics en sich. That's why I brought him
over."

Old Jim took the extended hand of the little man and held it while he
talked. "Thar's been a lot of people had their necks stretched up in
this deestrict for being caught in bad company, young man. You're
borderin' on that condition right now in runnin' around with ole
turkeyneck here. If the Vigilance Committee finds it out, you are a
goner.

"Circus man, hey? I mind the time when a lot of us fellers rode to
Cheyenne to see Barnum. Last man in had to pay all bills--it was some
pay, by the time we got through. We saw the show all right and we saw
Barnum. He was a fine man. But circus er no circus, ye ain't a goin'
to sidetrack me out'n them funeral arrangements. If ye can sing 'The
Lament,' yer engaged."

"Why, who's dead, Jim?" asked Landy innocently. "Did ole Selim die, er
is hit yer favorite hound dawg?"

"None sich," replied the old man heatedly. "It's me--my funeral--en
I'm aimin' to make a splendid time outen