Skeezeks, old Pal:
Yours received. Have sent letter to your superior officer or whatever you call him. Will be up after my two hundred buckarinos next week. Could you put me up for a couple of nights? I'll show you how to roast potatoes French style, and we'll have a hike.
Everything O.K., so don't worry. You're a little brick.
In a hurry,
H.D.
Believe me, I read that letter about seven times, But even then I wouldn't go to see Mr. Ellsworth, because I wanted to wait till the other letter was sent over to him from the shack. I guess I waited about half an hour, because I wanted to give him a chance to read his seven times too. Then I went to his tent where I knew he'd be getting ready to start away.
I just said kind of sober like, "Can I take your grip over to the bus for you, Mr. Ellsworth?"
Oh, boy, you ought to have seen him.
"Guess you'll have to root around and find another good turn for to-day, Roy," he said; "something has happened."
I just said very sober like (because I'm not afraid of him), "Did Skinny take any more money?" He said, "Here, read this, you little Silver Fox, and then clear out and give me a chance to get my wits together. You're right and I'm wrong as you usually are—I mean as I usually am—I don't know what I mean. Here, read this and then let's see your scout smile—you little rascal!"