een subjected
to heating of any kind for months.

They unloaded their bedding and other effects, then set about to light
a fire in the fairly business-like stove that stood in a corner of the
kitchen. They were busy at it, when the smooth, greasy, grinning face
of a fat Chinaman showed round the door-post.

"Hullo, John,--come on in!" greeted Jim.

The oriental obeyed, with just a little show of diffidence, although
diffidence of any degree did not sit too well on the general sleek
confidence of his appearance.

"Hullo!" said Phil, looking him over.

"Hullo!" said the Chinaman, familiarly. "You new bossy-man,--eh?"

"You bet! Where you come from, John?"

"Where me come? Me live here. Me stop little house way down orchard.
Me work allee time nicee day;--live here allee time winter.

"You let me stop,--eh?"

The Chinaman was quick in getting to business.

"What do you say, Jim?" asked Phil.

"Sure thing,--just what we want!

"Say, John!--what your name?"

"Me,--my name? My name, Ah Sing."

"Ah Sing!" exclaimed Jim, looking upward in expectancy.

"Ya,--Ah Sing!" repeated the other with a set, Chinese grin.

"Ah Sing!"

"Ya,--Ah Sing!"

"Then, why in heaven's name, don't you? I've asked you twice," laughed
Jim, showing his large teeth.

The Chinaman showed his own in return.

"Sing,--you know me?"

"Ya,--I know you. You bossy-man, Big Jim. I see you Court House plenty
time."

"Well!--you catchem heap firewood, cleanem up, sweepee floor--just
little bit--cookem one time every day;--and you stop. No do it;--you
go away;--no get stop here,--see!"

"Me stop here long time," remonstrated Sing fearfully,
"one--two--three--four bossy-man come, Sing stop allee time."

"No matter,--you work little bit, or no stop here,--see!"

The idea of winter work did not appeal to the wily Sing, but as it was
"work" or "get out," he relented.

"All lite!" he agreed. "Me stop. You pay me spling-time?"

"Yes!--that's a go, Sing. I pay you all time you work outside on
ranch. No pay winter time: not muchee work: just little bit."

"Me savvy! Me go catchem dly wood."

"So he is an old pal of yours, Jim?"

"Yes!--and he's a pretty wise guy at that.

"He was up before Thompson, the Government Agent, one time I was
there. Thompson was trying to get him to take an oath over something.
He asked Sing how he would like to swear, whether by kissing the Bible
or in the Chinese way.

"Me no care," said Sing, "burnem