第37章 A JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF CHRISTMAS(10)

"And they wouldn't wait,yu'see.They wouldn't fool away Christmas,that only comes onced a year,kickin'their heels and sayin''Where's Billy?'

They'd say,'Bill has sure made other arrangements,which he'll explain to us at his leesyure.'And they'd skip with the cigars."The advocate paused,effectively,and from his bolster regarded Billy with a convincing eye.

"That's so,"said Billy.

"And where would yu'be then,Bill?In the street,out of friends,out of Christmas,and left both ways,no tobaccer and no flapjacks.Now,Bill,what do yu'say to us putting up a Christmas deal together?Just you and me?""I'd like that,"said Billy."Is it all day?""I was thinkin'of all day,"said Lin."I'll not make yu'do anything yu'd rather not.""Ah,they can smoke without me,"said Billy,with sudden acrimony."I'll see 'em to-morro'.""That's you!"cried Mr.McLean."Now,Bill,you hustle down and tell them to keep a table for us.I'll get my clothes on and follow yu'."The boy went,and Mr.McLean procured hot water and dressed himself,tying his scarf with great care."Wished I'd a clean shirt,"said he.

"But I don't look very bad.Shavin'yesterday afternoon was a good move."He picked up the arrow-head and the kinni-kinnic,and was particular to store them in his safest pocket."I ain't sure whether you're crazy or not,"said he to the man in the looking-glass."I ain't never been sure."And he slammed the door and went down-stairs.

He found young Bill on guard over a table for four,with all the chairs tilted against it as warning to strangers.No one sat at any other table or came into the room,for it was late,and the place quite emptied of breakfasters,and the several entertained waiters had gathered behind Billy's important-looking back.Lin provided a thorough meal,and Billy pronounced the flannel cakes superior to flapjacks,which were not upon the bill of fare.

"I'd like to see you often,"said he."I'll come and see you if you don't live too far.""That's the trouble,"said the cow-puncher."I do.Awful far."He stared out of the window.

"Well,I might come some time.I wish you'd write me a letter.Can you write?""What's that?Can I write?Oh yes.""I can write,an'I can read too.I've been to school in Sidney,Nebraska,an'Magaw,Kansas,an'Salt Lake--that's the finest town except Denver."Billy fell into that cheerful strain of comment which,unreplied to,yet goes on contented and self-sustaining,while Mr.McLean gave amiable signs of assent,but chiefly looked out of the window;and when the now interested waiter said respectfully that he desired to close the room,they went out to the office,where the money was got out of the safe and the bill paid.

The streets were full of the bright sun,and seemingly at Denver's gates stood the mountains sparkling;an air crisp and pleasant wafted from their peaks;no smoke hung among the roofs,and the sky spread wide over the city without a stain;it was holiday up among the chimneys and tall buildings,and down among the quiet ground-stories below as well;and presently from their scattered pinnacles through the town the bells broke out against the jocund silence of the morning.

"Don't you like music?"inquired Billy.

"Yes,"said Lin.

Ladies with their husbands and children were passing and meeting,orderly yet gayer than if it were only Sunday,and the salutations of Christmas came now and again to the cow-puncher's ears;but to-day,possessor of his own share in this,Lin looked at every one with a sort of friendly challenge,and young Billy talked along beside him.

"Don't you think we could go in here?"Billy asked.A church door was open,and the rich organ sounded through to the pavement."They've good music here,an'they keep it up without much talking between.I've been in lots of times."They went in and sat to hear the music.Better than the organ,it seemed to them,were the harmonious voices raised from somewhere outside,like unexpected visitants;and the pair sat in their back seat,too deep in listening to the processional hymn to think of rising in decent imitation of those around them.The crystal melody of the refrain especially reached their understandings,and when for the fourth time "Shout the glad tidings,exultingly sing,"pealed forth and ceased,both the delighted faces fell.

"Don't you wish there was more?"Billy whispered.

"Wish there was a hundred verses,"answered Lin.