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without haste its mellow fitness。 Once again on the pavement； he looked
along the street toward up…town beneath the crisp； cold electric lights； and
three little bootblacks gathered where he stood and cried 〃Shine？ Shine？〃
at him。 Remembering that you took the third turn to the right to get the
best dinner in Denver； Lin hit on the skilful plan of stopping at all Hot
Scotches between； but the next occurred within a few yards； and it was
across the street。 This one being attained and appreciated； he found that he
must cross back again or skip number four。 At this rate he would not be
dining in time to see much of the theatre； and he stopped to consider。 It
was a German place he had just quitted； and a huge light poured out on
him from its window； which the proprietor's father…land sentiment had
made into a show。 Lights shone among a well…set pine forest； where beery；
jovial gnomes sat on roots and reached upward to Santa Claus； he；
grinning； fat； and Teutonic； held in his right hand forever a foaming glass；
and forever in his left a string of sausages that dangled down among the
gnomes。 With his American back to this； the cow…puncher； wearing the
same serious； absent face he had not changed since he ran away from
himself at Cheyenne； considered carefully the Hot Scotch question； and
which side of the road to take and stick to； while the little bootblacks
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found him once more and cried； 〃Shine？ Shine？〃 monotonous as snow…
birds。 He settled to stay over here with the south…side Scotches； and the
little one…note song reaching his attention； he suddenly shoved his foot at
the nearest boy； who lightly sprang away。
〃Dare you to touch him！〃 piped a snow…bird； dangerously。 They were
in short trousers； and the eldest enemy； it may be； was ten。
〃Don't hit me；〃 said Mr。 McLean 〃I'm innocent。〃
〃Well； you leave him be；〃 said one。
〃What's he layin' to kick you for； Billy？ 'Tain't yer pop； is it？〃
〃New！〃 said Billy； in scorn。 〃Father never kicked me。 Don't know who
he is。〃
〃He's a special！〃 shrilled the leading bird； sensationally。 〃He's got a
badge； and he's goin' to arrest yer。〃
Two of them hopped instantly to the safe middle of the street； and
scattered with practiced strategy； but Billy stood his ground。 〃Dare you to
arrest me！〃 said he。
〃What'll you give me not to？〃 inquired Lin； and he put his hands in his
pockets； arms akimbo。
〃Nothing； I've done nothing；〃 announced Billy； firmly。 But even in the
last syllable his voice suddenly failed； a terror filled his eyes； and he； too；
sped into the middle of the street。
〃What's he claim you lifted？〃 inquired the leader； with eagerness。 〃Tell
him you haven't been inside a store to…day。 We can prove it！〃 they
screamed to the special officer。
〃Say；〃 said the slow…spoken Lin from the pavement； 〃you're poor
judges of a badge； you fellows。〃
His tone pleased them where they stood； wide apart from each other。
Mr。 McLean also remained stationary in the bluish illumination of the
window。 〃Why； if any policeman was caught wearin' this here；〃 said he；
following his sprightly invention； 〃he'd get arrested himself。〃
This struck them extremely。 They began to draw together； Billy
lingering the last。
〃If it's your idea；〃 pursued Mr。 McLean； alluringly； as the three took
cautious steps nearer the curb； 〃that blue； clasped hands in a circle of red
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stars gives the bearer the right to put folks in the jugwhy； I'll get
somebody else to black my boots for a dollar。〃
The three made a swift rush； fell on simultaneous knees； and clattering
their boxes down； began to spit in an industrious circle。
〃Easy！〃 wheedled Mr。 McLean； and they looked up at him； staring and
fascinated。 〃Not having three feet；〃 said the cow…puncher； always grave
and slow； 〃I can only give two this here job。〃
〃He's got a big pistol and a belt！〃 exulted the leader； who had
precociously felt beneath Lin's coat。
〃You're a smart boy；〃 said Lin； considering him； 〃and yu' find a man
out right away。 Now you stand off and tell me all about myself while they
fix the bootsand a dollar goes to the quickest through。〃
Young Billy and his tow…headed competitor flattened down； each to a
boot； with all their might； while the leader ruefully contemplated Mr。
McLean。
〃That's a Colt 。45 you've got；〃 ventured he。
〃Right again。 Some day； maybe； you'll be wearing one of your own； if
the angels don't pull yu' before you're ripe。〃
〃I'm through！〃 sang out Towhead； rising in haste。
Small Billy was struggling still； but leaped at that； the two heads
bobbing to a level together； and Mr。 McLean； looking down； saw that the
arrangement had not been a good one for the boots。
〃Will you kindly referee；〃 said he； forgivingly； to the leader； 〃and
decide which of them smears is the awfulest？〃
But the leader looked the other way and played upon a mouth…organ。
〃Well； that saves me money；〃 said Mr。 McLean； jingling his pocket。 〃I
guess you've both won。〃 He handed each of them a dollar。 〃Now；〃 he
continued； 〃I just dassent show these boots uptown； so this time it's a
dollar for the best shine。〃
The two went palpitating at their brushes again； and the leader played
his mouth…organ with brilliant unconcern。 Lin； tall and brooding leaned
against the jutting sill of the window； a figure somehow plainly strange in
town； while through the bright plate…glass Santa Claus； holding out his
beer and sausages； perpetually beamed。
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Billy was laboring gallantly； but it was labor； the cow…puncher
perceived； and Billy no seasoned expert。〃 See here；〃 said Lin； stooping；
〃I'll show yu' how it's done。 He's playin' that toon cross…eyed enough to
steer anybody crooked。 There。 Keep your blacking soft； and work with a
dry brush。〃
〃Lemme；〃 said Billy。 〃I've got to learn。〃 So he finished the boot his
own