“And so you’re West at last. We’ve thought about you a thousand times. And when are you coming to tell Ma and me all about it? Next Sunday?”
“I—I can come then.”
“I wish you would. We’ve so much to talk about. We know about your—where you went when you left us in Hathaway that night. Pa meant to take me to see you, but— Well, he didn’t get around to it. We left for the West only a week afterward. But I mustn’t keep you from your work. You’ll remember that Ma wouldn’t let me have a holiday from my lessons when you called on me. We’ll expect you down Sunday, then. Isn’t it funny that you’re here after all these years? Good-by!”
She waved a hand at him and smiled and swung the black about. The walking boss fell in behind her, and she rode back the way she had come. Joshua slowly returned to his seat on a powder can and mechanically took the drill from Bluenose.
“Good-night, kid!” muttered that expert powderman. “Say, you’re it! Dat dame’s got ’em all crazy. How’d youse make de riffle?”
“I knew her back East when we were kids,” said Joshua simply. “Let’s go!”
And the music of the hammers began again.
Saturday evening Joshua Cole had charged to his account by the commissary clerk the following resplendent raiment:
| 1 Stetson Hat | $7.50 |
| 1 Pair Shoes | 5.00 |
| 1 Package Hungarian Hobnails | .50 |
| 1 Handkerchief | .10 |
| 1 Leather Belt | .50 |
| 1 Blue Chambray Shirt | 1.25 |
| 1 Pair Brown Overalls | 2.50 |
| ——— | |
| Total | $17.35 |
And Bluenose cut his coal-black hair for nothing, for which cruelty Bluenose should have had the straight-jacket.