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continued； 〃I just dassent show these boots uptown； so this time it's a
dollar for the best shine。〃
The two went palpitating at their brushes again； and the leader played
his mouth…organ with brilliant unconcern。 Lin； tall and brooding leaned
against the jutting sill of the window； a figure somehow plainly strange in
town； while through the bright plate…glass Santa Claus； holding out his
beer and sausages； perpetually beamed。
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Billy was laboring gallantly； but it was labor； the cow…puncher
perceived； and Billy no seasoned expert。〃 See here；〃 said Lin； stooping；
〃I'll show yu' how it's done。 He's playin' that toon cross…eyed enough to
steer anybody crooked。 There。 Keep your blacking soft； and work with a
dry brush。〃
〃Lemme；〃 said Billy。 〃I've got to learn。〃 So he finished the boot his
own way with wiry determination； breathing and repolishing； and this
event was also adjudged a dead heat； with results gratifying to both parties。
So here was their work done； and more money in their pockets than from
all the other boots and shoes of this day； and Towhead and Billy did not
wish for further trade； but to spend this handsome fortune as soon as might
be。 Yet they delayed in the brightness of the window； drawn by curiosity
near this new kind of man whose voice held them and whose remarks
dropped them into constant uncertainty。 Even the omitted leader had been
unable to go away and nurse his pride alone。
〃Is that a secret society？〃 inquired Towhead； lifting a finger at the
badge。
Mr。 McLean nodded。 〃Turruble；〃 said he。
〃You're a Wells & Fargo detective；〃 asserted the leader。
〃Play your harp；〃 said Lin。
〃Are you aa desperaydo？〃 whispered Towhead。
〃Oh； my！〃 observed Mr。 McLean； sadly； 〃what has our Jack been
readin'？〃
〃He's a cattle…man！〃 cried Billy。 〃I seen his heels。〃
〃That's you！〃 said the discovered puncher； with approval。 〃You'll do。
But I bet you can't tell me what we wearers of this badge have sworn to do
this night。〃
At this they craned their necks and glared at him。
〃Wearesworndon't yu' jump； now； and give me awayswornto
blow off three bootblacks to a dinner。〃
〃Ah； pshaw！〃 They backed away； bristling with distrust。
〃That's the oath； fellows。 Yu' may as well make your minds upfor I
have it to do！〃
〃Dare you to！ Ah！〃
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〃And after dinner it's the Opera…house； to see 〃The Children of Captain
Cant'！〃
They screamed shrilly at him； keeping off beyond the curb。
〃I can't waste my time on such smart boys；〃 said Mr。 McLean； rising
lazily to his full height from the window…sill。 〃I am goin' somewhere to
find boys that ain't so turruble quick stampeded by a roast turkey。〃
He began to lounge slowly away； serious as he had been throughout；
and they； stopping their noise short； swiftly picked up their boxes； and
followed him。 Some change in the current of electricity that fed the
window disturbed its sparkling light； so that Santa Claus； with his arms
stretched out behind the departing cow…puncher seemed to be smiling
more broadly from the midst of his flickering brilliance。
On their way to turkey； the host and his guests exchanged but few
remarks。 He was full of good…will； and threw off a comment or two that
would have led to conversation under almost any circumstances save these；
but the minds of the guests were too distracted by this whole state of
things for them to be capable of more than keeping after Mr。 McLean in
silence； at a wary interval； and with their mouths； during most of the
journey； open。 The badge； the pistol； their patron's talk； and the unusual
dollars； wakened wide their bent for the unexpected； their street affinity
for the spur of the moment； they believed slimly in the turkey part of it；
but what this man might do next； to be there when he did it； and not to be
trapped； kept their wits jumping deliciously； so when they saw him stop；
they stopped instantly too； ten feet out of reach。 This was Denver's most
civilized restaurantthat one which Mr。 McLean had remembered； with
foreign dishes and private rooms； where he had promised himself； among
other things； champagne。 Mr。 McLean had never been inside it； but heard a
tale from a friend； and now he caught a sudden sight of people among
geraniums； with plumes and white shirt…fronts； very elegant。 It must have
been several minutes that he stood contemplating the entrance and the
luxurious couples who went in。
〃Plumb French！〃 he observed at length； and then； 〃Shucks！〃 in a key
less confident； while his guests ten feet away watched him narrowly。
〃They're eatin' patty de parley…voo in there；〃 he muttered； and the three
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bootblacks came beside him。 〃Say； fellows；〃 said Lin； confidingly； 〃I
wasn't raised good enough for them dude dishes。 What do yu' say！ I'm
after a place where yu' can mention oyster stoo without givin' anybody a
fit。 What do yu' say； boys？〃
That lighted the divine spark of brotherhood！
〃Ah； you come along with uswe'll take yer！ You don't want to go in
there。 We'll show yer the boss place in Market Street。 We won't lose yer。〃
So； shouting together in their shrill little city trebles； they clustered about
him； and one pulled at his coat to start him。 He started obediently； and
walked in their charge； they leading the way。
〃Christmas is comin' now； sure；〃 said Lin； grinning to himself。 〃It ain't
exactly what I figured on。〃 It was the first time he had laughed since
Cheyenne； and he brushed a hand over his eyes； that were dim with the
new warmth in his heart。
Believing at length in him and his turkey； the alert street faces； so
suspicious of the unknown； looked at him with ready intimacy as they
went along； and soon； in the friendly desire to make him acquainted with
Denver； the three were patronizing him。 Only Billy； perhaps； now and then
stole at him a doubtful look。
The large Country Mouse listened solemnly to his three Town Mice；
who presently introduced him to the place in Market Street。 It was not
boss； precisely； and Denver knows better neighborhoods； but the turkey
and the oyster stew were there； with catsup and vegetables in season； and
several choices of pie。 Here the Country Mouse became again efficient；
and to witness his liberal mastery of ordering and imagine his pocket and
its wealth； which they had heard and partly seen； renewed in the guests a
transient awe。 As they dined； however； and found the host as frankly
ravenous as themselves； this reticence evaporated； and they all grew fluent
with oaths and opinions。 At one or two words； indeed； Mr。 McLean stared
and had a slight sense of blushing。
〃Have a cigarette？〃 said the leader； over his pie。
〃Thank yu'；〃 said Lin。 〃I won't smoke； if yu'll excuse me。〃 He had
devised a wholesome meal； with water to drink。
〃Chewin's no good at meals；〃 continued the boy。 〃Don't you use
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tobaccer？〃 〃Onced in a while。〃
The leader spat brightly。 〃He ain't learned yet；〃 said he； slanting his
elbows at Billy and sliding a match over his rump。 〃But beer； nowI never
seen anything in it。〃 He and Towhead soon left Billy and his callow
profanities behind； and engaged in a town conversation that silenced him；
and set him listening with all his admiring young might。 Nor did Mr。
McLean join in the talk； but sat embarrassed by this knowledge； which
seemed about as much as he knew himself。
〃I'll be