“Follow their example, lads. Go to bed, and no more nonsense.”
For an instant, Jack and his guest regarded each other, then both sheepishly laughed—which astonished the wide-eyed Carlota even more than their brief fight had done.
“That’s all right, little girl. They’ll be good friends now. Boys often begin their acquaintance by a ‘scrap,’ test one another that way, so to speak,” explained the station-master.
“I never saw him do such a dreadful thing before. Never—never—never! I—I—it’s a mis’able world! And I wish—I—was in—my own—Refugio!” wailed Carlota.
In her heart, Letitia Burnham echoed that wish, but aloud she cheerfully said:
“It’s a pretty good world, after all, my child. But come, you poor, tired dearie. I’m going to put you to sleep in my very own bed; and to show you the prettiest sight in the wide west—I think—nay, I am sure!”
Wondering what this might be and how anything very lovely could be in that dreary place, Carlota sleepily followed her new friend to the inner room.
CHAPTER XVI
THE NEXT MORNING
When Carlos awoke he saw Jack standing in the middle of the small room where they had slept, trying to put on his own kid jacket and this absurd attempt of an overgrown youth to squeeze himself into a garment several sizes too small was so absurd that the watcher giggled.
“Hello, you! Laughing at me, are you? I’d like to know why?”