y
line of him, just as he had thrown himself upon the bunk. He had
removed hat and boots by way of preparation for bed, and his vest
served for a pillow. Long lashes lay on a cheek lightly tanned to
olive, but his upper forehead was startling white by contrast, where a
heavy hat had shaded it from burning suns. His hands were soft and
white; the gloved hands of a rider in his youth. The bunk, it may be
mentioned, was behind iron bars; Mr. Gwinne was chief deputy and
jailer, and the sleeper was Mr. Johnny Dines.

Mr. Gwinne tapped out his pipe and spoke huskily: "Young feller, get
up! Can't you hear the little birds singing their praises to--"

"Ur-rgh! Ugh! Ar-rumph-umph!" said Johnny, sitting up.

He started a little as his eyes fell on the bars. He pulled his
shoulders together. Recollection followed puzzlement on his yet
unguarded face; he passed his fingers through his tousled hair, making
further tanglement. He looked at the absurd gigantic figure beyond the
bars, and his eyes crinkled to smiling. Then his face took on an
expression of discontent. He eyed his bed with frank distaste.

"I say, old top--no offense, and all that, but look now--I've never
been in jail before. Is the establishment all scientific and
everything? No objectionable--er--creepers, you know?"

"Why, you impudent young whelp! Damn your hide, I sleep here myself.
If there's a grayback in my jail I'll eat your shirt. What in time do
you mean by it, hey? Pulling my leg? You'd a heap better be studying
about your silly neck, you young devil. Come out of that, now! Nine
o'clock, past. Wish I had your conscience. Ten hours' solid sleep and
still going strong."

"Gee, why didn't you wake me up? Are they going to hold my preliminary
trial this morning or wait till after dinner? I'm sort of interested
to see what indiscriminating evidence they've got."

"No trial to-day," said Gwinne gruffly. "Justice of the peace is up in
the hills beyond Kingston, doin' assessments. They've gone after him,
but they won't get back till late to-night."

"H'm!" Johnny rubbed his nose and looked searchingly at his
ridiculously small and shapely feet; he wriggled his toes. "And don't
I eat till His Honor gets back?" he inquired diffidently.

Gwinne rose heavily and shambled to the cell. "If I let you out to eat
breakfast with me like a white man--no pranks?"

"Nary prank," said Johnny.

"She goes," said Gwinne.

He unlocked the door. Johnny slipped on his h