"Very well. You may retire, Tracy. Boys, make yourselves at home."
As Tracy and Anson were going out, the eyes of the latter encountered those of Whisky Jim, who was surveying him closely in a drunken manner.
"Who are you lookin' at?" muttered Anson.
"Sheems to me," said Jim thickly, "I'm a-lookin' at a gent what had shome deeficulty down Tucson way 'bout takin' a hoss what b'longed to nozzer man."
"You're a liar, you drunken dog!" grated Anson, as he hastened from the cabin.
"Do you know that man?" asked Merry, of Jim.
"Sh!" hissed the toper, with a cautioning gesture. "I don't want 't gener'lly know I ever shaw him before. He'sh a hosh-thief. He'd shteal anything, he would. I never 'nowledge him ash 'quaintance of mine."
"Do you know the other man, my foreman?"
"Sheems to look ruzer nacheral," said Jim; "but can't 'zactly plashe him. All shame, if he keeps comp'ny wish that hosh-thief, you look out f' him."
Frank celebrated his safe return to the mine in company with his friends by preparing a rather elaborate[Pg 131] spread, and all gathered about the table to enjoy it and chat about old times and the present fight Merry was making against the mining trust.