a
warrant just as soon as we get into Purdy. You should be satisfied with
my admitting that I am irregular."

The General roared with a great laugh. "Your apology is of the finest
feather, the most gracious down," said he, "but our friends must
remember that in an irregularity often lie some of the most precious
merits of this life."

"If we hadn't been huddled round this here table you wouldn't be havin'
sich fun," said Scott Aimes, quivering under my strong pull at the rope.
"We never did ask nothin' but a fair show, but we didn't git it this
time, by a long shot."

"Silence, brute," the General commanded. "As low as you are, you should
know better than to break in upon the high spirits of a gentleman. Oh, I
have understood you all along. You were working your courage toward me.
Hush, don't you speak a word."

"Got them all strung?" the deputy asked, examining the ropes. "Good.
Now, Josh, you run over to my house as fast as you can and tell my wife
that you want the two-horse wagon. And hitch it up and come back here as
fast as you can. Go on; I'll pay you for everything."

"Thankee, sah, I'm gone. It loosens er ole pusson's feet, sah, ter know
dat he gwine be paid. Hard times allus comin' down de big road, er
kickin' up er dust."

"Are you going?" the deputy stormed. "Confound you; I'll put you in jail
for selling whisky if you are not back here in fifteen minutes."

"Gone now!" exclaimed the negro, bounding from the door and striking a
trot. "Gone!" we heard him repeat, as he leaped over the fence.

"Mr. Parker," said Scott Aimes, stretching his neck toward the officer,
"I've jest got one favor to ask of you. Git that bottle over thar an'
give us fellers a drink. It was licker that got us into this here muss,
an' you ought to let licker help us a little now."

"Old fellow used to keep a grocery over at Blue Lick," the deputy
remarked, looking at me rather than at the prisoner, "and when a man's
money was all gone he used to say: 'Lord love you, honey, I couldn't
think of letting you take another drop; I'm so much interested in your
welfare that I don't want to see you hurt yourself.' No,
Scottfield"--and now he looked at the prisoner--"I am too much
interested in you to see you throw yourself away. Don't be impatient.
'Just wait for the wagon,' says the old song."

The old General had sat down, but old Lim continued to stand there, his
arms bare and his teeth hard-set. On his countenance lay the shadow