"Me glo with you," reiterated the Chinaman, kindly but firmly; and the benevolence of his smile was beautiful to see.
The bewilderment in Bert's face was too much for the others, and they burst into a roar of laughter.
"No use, Bert," said Dick, as soon as he could speak. "He's got the
Indian sign on us, and we might as well give in."
"No," echoed Tom, "there's no getting away from that smile. If I had it,
I could borrow money from the Bank of England."
"I throw up my hands," responded Bert. "He's adopted us, and that's all there is about it. We'll take him along as handy man, till he gets to his 'flends in Panama.'"
They put him to work at once, getting ready the baggage, and when this was completed, they sought out Melton to say good-bye. They wrung his hand until he laughingly protested that they wanted to cripple him.
"We'll never forget you, never," they declared with fervent sincerity.
"Same here," he replied with equal warmth, "and some day I hope to see you on my ranch. I'd like to show you what is meant by a Western welcome."
"Will we? You bet. Just watch us," came in chorus, and then they reluctantly tore themselves away from the great hearted specimen of Nature's noblemen, whose place in their hearts was secure for all time.
"Panama, after all," exulted Dick, as they stood on the station platform.