somethin'. Gee! but it's tough to cash in like this

just when I was figgerin' on goin' home."

Billy couldn't think of anything to say. He turned to look

up and down the canyon in search of the enemy.

"Home!" whispered Eddie. "Home!"

"Aw, shucks!" said Billy kindly. "You'll get home all right,

kid. The boys must a-heard the shootin' an' they'll be along in

no time now. Then we'll clean up this bunch o' coons an'

have you back to El Orobo an' nursed into shape in no

time."

Eddie tried to smile as he looked up into the other's face.

He reached a hand out and laid it on Billy's arm.

"You're all right, old man," he whispered. "I know you're

lyin' an' so do you; but it makes me feel better anyway to

have you say them things."

Billy felt as one who has been caught stealing from a blind

man. The only adequate reply of which he could think was,

"Aw, shucks!"

"Say," said Eddie after a moment's silence, "if you get out

o' here an' ever go back to the States promise me you'll look

up maw and paw an' tell 'em I was comin' home--to stay.

Tell 'em I died decent, too, will you--died like paw was

always a-tellin' me my granddad died, fightin' Injuns 'round

Fort Dodge somewheres."

"Sure," said Billy; "I'll tell 'em. Gee! Look who's comin'

here," and as he spoke he flattened himself to the ground just

as a bullet pinged against the rock above his head and the

report of a rifle sounded from up the canyon. "That guy most

got me. I'll have to be 'tendin' to business better'n this."

He drew himself slowly up upon his elbows, his carbine

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