"Here you are. Fire away," replied the boy. "The light is not good, but I can hear in the dark."
"You are wanted, Mr. Stanton, very earnestly by a friend of yours."
"Let him walk right in if he wants me," replied The Kid.
"That he cannot do. He is very ill."
"Ah! who is he, may I ask?" enquired Stanton, striking a match.
It was promptly blown out.
"I wouldn't do that again," he said gently. "Who is it?" he repeated, striking another match and lighting the lamp.
"It is Ike," said Shock. "He is very ill—dying, for all I know, and he wants you."
For answer there was a contemptuous laugh from the Mounted Policeman, in which Macfarren joined.
"Rather good that," said Macfarren.