“I say,” Hogan continued insinuatingly, “won’t you let me stay here to-night?”

“Sleep here?”

“Yes.”

“I’d rather not, Mr. Hogan.”

“I haven’t a cent to pay for a lodging. If you don’t take me in, I shall have to stay in the street all night.”

“You’ve slept out at the mines, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can do it here.”

“You’re hard on a poor man,” whined Hogan. “It wouldn’t cost you anything to let me sleep here.”

“No, it wouldn’t,” said Joe; “but I prefer to choose my own company at night.”