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〃Father took me camping with him once； the time mother was off。
Father gets awful drunk； too。 I've quit Laramie for good。〃
Lin sat up； and his hand gripped the boy。 〃Laramie！〃 said he； almost
shouting it。 〃Yu'yu'is your name Lusk？〃
But the boy had shrunk from him instantly。 〃You're not going to take
me home？〃 he piteously wailed。
〃Heaven and heavens！〃 murmured Lin McLean。 〃So you're her kid！〃
He relaxed again； down in his chair； his legs stretched their straight
length below the chair in front。 He was waked from his bewilderment by a
brushing under him； and there was young Billy diving for escape to the
aisle； like the cornered city mouse that he was。 Lin nipped that poor little
attempt and had the limp Billy seated inside again before the two in
discussion beyond had seen anything。 He had said not a word to the boy；
and now watched his unhappy eyes seizing upon the various exits and
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dispositions of the theatre； nor could he imagine anything to tell him that
should restore the perished confidence。 〃Why did yu' lead him off？〃 he
asked himself unexpectedly； and found that he did not seem to know； but
as he watched the restless and estranged runaway he grew more and more
sorrowful。 〃I just hate him to think that of me；〃 he reflected。 The curtain
rose； and he saw Billy make up his mind to wait until they should all be
going out in the crowd。 While the children of Captain Grant grew hotter
and hotter upon their father's geographic trail； Lin sat saying to himself a
number of contradictions。 〃He's nothing to me； what's any of them to me？〃
Driven to bay by his bewilderment； he restated the facts of the past。 〃Why；
she'd deserted him and Lusk before she'd ever laid eyes on me。 I needn't to
bother myself。 He wasn't never even my step…kid。〃 The past； however；
brought no guidance。 〃Lord； what's the thing to do about this？ If I had any
home This is a stinkin' world in some respects；〃 said Mr。 McLean； aloud；
unknowingly。 The lady in the chair beneath which the cow…puncher had
his legs nudged her husband。 They took it for emotion over the sad fortune
of Captain Grant； and their backs shook。 Presently each turned； and saw
the singular man with untamed； wide…open eyes glowering at the stage；
and both backs shook again。
Once more his hand was laid on Billy。 〃Say！〃 The boy glanced at him；
and quickly away。
〃Look at me； and listen。〃
Billy swervingly obeyed。
〃I ain't after yu'； and never was。 This here's your business； not mine。
Are yu' listenin' good？〃
The boy made a nod； and Lin proceeded； whispering： 〃You've got no
call to believe what I say to yu'yu've been lied to； I guess； pretty often。
So I'll not stop yu' runnin' and hidin'； and I'll never give it away I saw yu'；
but yu' keep doin' what yu' please。 I'll just go now。 I've saw all I want； but
you and your friends stay with it till it quits。 If yu' happen to wish to speak
to me about that pistol or bears； yu' come around to Smith's Palacethat's
the boss hotel here； ain't it？and if yu' don't come too late I'll not be gone
to bed。 But this time of night I'm liable to get sleepy。 Tell your friends
good…bye for me； and be good to yourself。 I've appreciated your
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company。〃 Mr。 McLean entered Smith's Palace； and； engaging a room
with two beds in it； did a little delicate lying by means of the truth。 〃It's a
lost boy a runaway；〃 he told the clerk。 〃He'll not be extra clean； I expect；
if he does come。 Maybe he'll give me the slip； and I'll have a job cut out
to…morrow。 I'll thank yu' to put my money in your safe。〃
The clerk placed himself at the disposal of the secret service； and Lin
walked up and down； looking at the railroad photographs for some ten
minutes； when Master Billy peered in from the street。
〃Hello！〃 said Mr。 McLean； casually； and returned to a fine picture of
Pike's Peak。
Billy observed him for a space； and； receiving no further attention；
came stepping along。 〃I'm not a…going back to Laramie；〃 he stated；
warningly。
〃I wouldn't；〃 said Lin。 〃It ain't half the town Denver is。 Well； good…
night。 Sorry yu' couldn't call soonerI'm dead sleepy。〃
〃O…h！〃 Billy stood blank。 〃I wish I'd shook the darned old show。 Say；
lemme black your boots in the morning？〃
〃Not sure my train don't go too early。〃
〃I'm up！ I'm up！ I get around to all of 'em。〃
〃Where do yu' sleep？〃
〃Sleeping with the engine…man now。 Why can't you put that on me to…
night？〃
〃Goin' up…stairs。 This gentleman wouldn't let you go up…stairs。〃
But the earnestly petitioned clerk consented； and Billy was the first to
hasten into the room。 He stood rapturous while Lin buckled the belt round
his scanty stomach； and ingeniously buttoned the suspenders outside the
accoutrement to retard its immediate descent to earth。
〃Did it ever kill a man？〃 asked Billy； touching the six…shooter。
〃No。 It ain't never had to do that； but I expect maybe it's stopped some
killin' me。〃
〃Oh； leave me wear it just a minute！ Do you collect arrow…heads？ I
think they're bully。 There's the finest one you ever seen。〃 He brought out
the relic； tightly wrapped in paper； several pieces。 〃I foun' it myself；
camping with father。 It was sticking in a crack right on top of a rock； but
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nobody'd seen it till I came along。 Ain't it fine？〃
Mr。 McLean pronounced it a gem。
〃Father an' me found a lot； an' they made mother mad laying around；
an' she throwed 'em out。 She takes stuff from Kelley's。〃
〃Who's Kelley？〃
〃He keeps the drug…store at Laramie。 Mother gets awful funny。 That's
how she was when I came home。 For I told Mr。 Perkins he lied； an' I ran
then。 An' I knowed well enough she'd lick me when she got through her
spell an' father can't stop her； an' Iah； I was sick of it！ She's lamed me
up twice beating mean' Perkins wanting me to say 'God bless my
mother！' a…getting up and a…going to bedhe's a flubdub！ An' so I cleared
out。 But I'd just as leaves said for God to bless fatheran' you。 I'll do it
now if you say it's any sense。〃
Mr。 McLean sat down in a chair。