“How’s she looking?”
“Not extra good, Billy. She’s not very well, and she said if I came across you to tell you she’d like to see you as soon as she could.”
“How are the girls?”
“They’re all right.”
“I’m sorry about ma,” mused Billy, soberly. “If she’s poorly I’m going home as straight as I can travel, you can bet on that.”
“We can give you a job with the bull train, Billy,” proffered Charley Martin. “We’re short of men.”
But Billy shook his head.
“No, sir. I’m due at the Cody place in Salt Creek Valley.”
“Well, Billy, in that case I’ll pass you through on the next stage, if there’s room,” volunteered Mr. Ficklin.
“I can hang on somewhere,” asserted Billy. “The pass is the main thing. Never mind the room.”