"Gosh! I forgot," said George, dodging into the kitchen.
Johnny had company while he ate, for the cook entertained him with an account of Wolf's visit, to all of which Johnny paid polite interest, but he hastened his meal. Then he slowed again, for George was beginning to get at the kernels.
"Has he lost his saddle?" asked the cook.
"Don't know."
"Must a' busted it. He asked me if I knowed where there was a good second-hand one, gold or brass trimmed. An' say, keep yore eyes on yourn; he asks me if you tote it up to yore room nights. I didn't tell him you keep it in th' kitchen, but I did say there wasn't no room in yore room for no saddle. He wants one, I reckon, because he went to Jerry's when he left here."
"He wouldn't take my saddle," said Johnny. "He was havin' fun with you."
"Mebby," admitted George. "He was in a jokin' humor, 'cause he laughed an' says he reckoned you'd get th' courtin' bug, like all th' rest, an' go callin' on that Arnold gal. An' he says he'll bet you get throwed as hard as th' rest of 'em. I gave it to him right back an' says that you an' me are both alike—we hates wimmin."
"They've got to hustle if they rope you or me," laughed Johnny. "What else did he say?"
"That's all, that an' what I told you before. Where you goin' now?"
"Round to Dave's for a game of cards, mebby. Wolf an' Fanning are there," answered Johnny, taking his hat from the floor and arising.