“There! there!” he exclaimed, and there was a shake in his voice, “there! there! Don't let's talk about such things now. I—I—Let's wait a spell. We'll have some more plans to make, maybe. If you want to use my razor it's right in that drawer. Just help yourself.”
The visitor laughed aloud. He nodded as if satisfied. “Ho! ho!” he chuckled. “I see! Humph! yes—I see. The fools ain't all dead, and there's none to beat an old one. Well! well! All right, pard! I guess you and me'll get along fine. I've changed my mind; I WILL go to the barber shop, after all. Only I'm a little shy of dust just at present. So, to oblige a friend, maybe you'll hand over, huh?”
The captain reached into his pocket, extracted a two-dollar bill, and passed it to the speaker. Mr. Smith smiled and shook his head.
“You can't come in on that, pard,” he said. “The limit's five.”
Captain Cy took back the bill and exchanged it for one with a V in each corner. The visitor took it and turned toward the door.
“Ta! ta!” he said, taking his hat from the peg in the dining room. “I'm off for the clippers. When I come back I'll be the sweetest little Willie in the diggin's. So long.”
Bos'n and the captain sat down to the dinner at noon alone. Mr. Smith had not returned from his trip to the barber's. He came in, however, just before the meal was over, still in an unshorn condition, somewhat flushed and very loquacious.
“Say!” he exclaimed genially. “That Simpson's the right sort, ain't he? Him and me took a shine to each other from the go-off. He's been West himself and he's got some width to him. He's no psalm singer.”
“Humph!” commented the captain, with delicate sarcasm. “He don't seem to be much of a barber, either. What's the matter? Gone out of business, has he? Or was you so wild or woolly he got discouraged before he begun?”
“Great snakes!” exclaimed the visitor. “I forgot all about the clippers! Well, that's one on me, pard! I'll make a new try soon's grub's over. Don't be so tight-fisted with the steak; this is a plate I'm passin', not a contribution box.”