declined the youth.

"Have a smoke?" suggested Columbus Blackie. "Here's

the makin's."

The change in the attitude of the men toward him

pleased The Oskaloosa Kid immensely. They were treat-

ing him as one of them, and after the lonely walk through

the dark and desolate farm lands human companionship

of any kind was to him as the proverbial straw to the

man who rocked the boat once too often.

Dopey Charlie and The General, alone of all the

company, waxed not enthusiastic over the advent of

The Oskaloosa Kid and his priceless loot. These two sat

scowling and whispering in the back-ground. "Dat's a

wrong guy," muttered the former to the latter. "He's a

stool pigeon or one of dese amatoor mugs."

"It's the pullin' of that punk graft that got my goat,"

replied The General. "I never seen a punk yet that didn't

try to make you think he was a wise guy an' dis stiff

don't belong enough even to pull a spiel that would fool

a old ladies' sewin' circle. I don't see wot The Sky Pi-

lot's cozyin' up to him fer."

"You don't?" scoffed Dopey Charlie. "Didn't you lamp

de oyster harness? To say nothin' of de mitful of rocks

and kale."

"That 'ud be all right, too," replied the other, "if we

could put the guy to sleep; but The Sky Pilot won't

never stand for croakin' nobody. He's too scared of his

neck. We'll look like a bunch o' wise ones, won't we?

lettin' a stranger sit in now--after last night. Hell!" he

suddenly exploded. "Don't you know that you an' me

stand to swing if any of de bunch gets gabby in front

of dis phoney punk?"

The two sat silent for a while, The General puffing on

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