ot--yer've used me liker fren'; and if it hoits yer, yer
can kick me pants fur me, and I won't say nuthin'."

"Well, there's two-pound-and-a-half of dead game sport for you, all
right!" cried Benny. "Good eye, kid!"

Happy Jack smiled a mollified smile eight inches wide. "You is all right,
beau," said he. "An' as fur as my bein' a nigger's concerned, I'll admit
my kerplection ain't light." He slapped his ham and brought down a foot
on the platform. "Hyah, hyah!" he roared, "you bet dere ain't no dam'
blond 'bout me!"

The infectious darky laugh started the others off, and brought matters to
a common-sense footing.

The passenger agent took up the interrogation. Was the man the boy's real
father? Answer: "How'd I know? Dat's der song he guv me." Were there any
relatives? Friends? Answer: "Naw!" Well, what did the boy propose to do?
Answer, digging his toes into the boards: "Didn't know--anyt'ing!" What
was his name? "Jim." Jim what? "Didn't know. Sometimes der gun callt
himself 'Darragh,' an' sometimes 'Mullen,' an' sometimes 'Smit.' Aggh! He
callt himself the foist t'ing dat come to his tongue--he didn't have no
real name."

The agent talked to him a bit more, winding up by saying kindly: "You've
had a pretty rough time of it, Jimmy, and we'd all like to give you a
lift--now, just say what you'd like to do, and maybe we can fix it."

"I'd like to go along wid dat feller, 'f he'll take me," replied the boy,
tossing a thumb toward Jim Felton. There was a becoming access of shyness
in his manner; moreover, Felton had an increased interest in him when he
knew they bore the same name--a sort of kinship, as it were.

"Well, it's up to you, Mister--" said the passenger agent, with a smile.

"Felton," said Jim. "I'm in. I'll take the boy. Hard rustling down my
way, but I guess we can make out somehow. Sure you want to go, kid?"

"Yessir!" very heartily.

"Done, then!"

Happy Jack snatched off his uniform cap, spat on a bill, and flapped it
into the bottom thereof.

"Good-by, fren'!" said he. He shook the cap in front of the others.
"Here's fur the lil' rooster; step up to the capen's office an' settle,
gents!" he called. "'Member what de Bible says, 'Fool an' his money soon
parted.' Come up! Come up!"

They came up generously.

"Stick a five in there for me, Bill," said Benny to the passenger agent,
"I'm strapped."

"How much you got, boy?" asked the agent, as Happy counted the money.

"Fo'ty dollars, even m