For a moment there was silence, then a chorus of voices exclaimed: “Did you marry the Queen?”
The stranger pressed his hand upon his forehead.
“No. If I remember correctly some one held an ace and took my Queen.”
He rose from the nail-keg.
“I'm hungry. I would like some supper and a bed for the night. To-morrow I will embrace my only living relative. Is there a boarding house in town?”
“Somethin' better'n that,” said Abner. “We've got a Hotel—the Hawkins House. Mrs. Hawkins keeps it. I'm going along that way and I'll interduce you. She's a pretty good talker herself,” and Abner winked with both eyes as they went out.
“Well,” said Benoni, as the door closed after them. “The Bible says Ananias was a pretty good story teller, but that gentleman seems to have added some modern improvements.”
“He's a cussed liar,” said Bob Wood.
“And if Mrs. Hawkins is smart she'll make him pay in advance.”
The door was thrown open full width and two men rushed in.