road. And when Whitey told him that the
driver thought Bill was playing a joke on him, Dan shook his head
solemnly, and seemed almost about to have another spell, and allowed
that Bill suttinly wouldn't play no joke o' that kind.

Whitey had thought that most fat people were jolly, and was surprised to
find Dan Brayton so serious. But he thought maybe it was the letter that
made him so, for when he looked at it, he wrinkled up his forehead, and
coughed behind his hand, and seemed to be considering it very weightily.
At last he spoke.

"This here letter's very important," Dan said, "an' I don't wonder Bill
wouldn't trust none o' them fool punchers with it. An' 'course, Bill
didn't c'nfide its insides t' you, knowin' how important your father
takes all them important matters o' his."

Whitey wondered if Dan didn't know any other long word besides
"important," but he said nothing, while Dan thought and thought about
the letter, and finally spoke again.

"I bin thinkin'," he said, "that I'll have t' c'nsider this here matter
't some length, 'fore decidin' on no course o' action. You don't mind
stayin' overnight, do you?"

Whitey replied that it had been his intention to remain at the T Up and
Down for a day or two, if it was agreeable to Dan, so that matter was
settled.

"Th' ain't much t' see 'round here, th' country bein' kind o' flat an'
uninterestin', an' I reck'n, bein' rather tired, you wouldn't mind just
settin' here an' readin', while I go an' c'nsult with my foreman," Dan
said, and went away and presently returned with a big thick book, which
was very heavy, and gave it to Whitey. "This here's my fav'rut book,"
Dan continued, "an' is very absorbin'. Set in my chair there, an' read
y'self t' death, 'f you feel like it," and Dan took himself off.

So Whitey sat in Dan's chair, which happened to be the only chair in the
room, and was extremely uncomfortable, being all sagged down on one
side, on account of Dan's weight. The book proved to be a
several-years-old copy of the Congressional Record, containing the
speeches made before Congress at that time, and in addition to being
heavy, it was more than dull. Whitey couldn't understand how Dan found
it "absorbin'." Dan certainly must be a serious-minded person, despite
his fat. And yet, from over near the bunk house, Whitey heard loud
laughter coming from several men. He reflected hopefully that perhaps
the hands were not so solemn as Dan Brayton.

But this ho