"I'll put up twenty-five pounds in all, for I reckon there are other things that would come handy," Mr. Mansfield said as he began to weigh out the articles, and Dick asked quickly,—
"You're to let me pay for 'em?"
"Sure," the proprietor replied as he winked at the loungers. "You shall give all the stuff is worth."
"I didn't want to hang 'round here very long; but Mr. Mason said I was to wait for him."
"If Bob Mason give sich orders it'll be worth your while to stop a spell; for he's as cross-grained as a broncho when matters don't go to his likin', an' might make trouble for you."
Dick was considerably disturbed by this remark, which had much the sound of a threat, and looked out of the door uneasily.
The citizens had been exceedingly kind to him; but he had had no little experience with inhabitants of frontier towns, and knew that friendship might be changed to enmity very suddenly.
The shopkeeper had not finished filling the small order when Bob Mason rode up on a wiry-looking broncho, and after tying the beast to a hitching-post, entered the store.
"I had an idea that was what you were up to," one of the loungers said; and Mason replied with a laugh,—
"When we have sich a visitor as this 'ere kid, I reckon we're called on to make things pleasant for him." Then turning to Dick he added, "If it so be your daddy pulls through all right for the next week or ten days, he should be in condition to ride this far?"