Billy observed him for a space, and, receiving no further attention, came stepping along. “I’m not a-going back to Laramie,” he stated, warningly.
“I wouldn’t,” said Lin. “It ain’t half the town Denver is. Well, good-night. Sorry yu’ couldn’t call sooner—I’m dead sleepy.”
“O-h!” Billy stood blank. “I wish I’d shook the darned old show. Say, lemme black your boots in the morning?”
“Not sure my train don’t go too early.”
“I’m up! I’m up! I get around to all of ’em.”
“Where do yu’ sleep?”
“Sleeping with the engine-man now. Why can’t you put that on me to-night?”
“Goin’ up-stairs. This gentleman wouldn’t let yu’ go up-stairs.”
But the earnestly petitioned clerk consented, and Billy was the first to hasten into the room. He stood rapturous while Lin buckled the belt round his scanty stomach, and ingeniously buttoned the suspenders outside the accoutrement to retard its immediate descent to earth.