Steele. The
Government--the United States Government, suh--having corralled the river
where the railroad crosses, until we procure a nearer supply by artesian
wells or by laying a pipe line we are public spirited enough to haul our
water bodily, for ablution purposes, at ten dollars the barrel, or ten
cents, one dime, the bucket. A bath, suh, uses up consider'ble water, even
if at a slight reduction you are privileged to double up with another
gentleman."

I shuddered at the thought of thus "doubling up." God, how my stomach sank
and my gorge rose as I rummaged through that bag, and with my toilet
articles in hand faced the washstand!

They two intently watched my operations; the Colonel craned to peer into
my valise--and presently I might interpret his curiosity.

"The prime old bourbon served at the fust-class New York bars still
maintains its reputation, I dare hope, suh?" he interrogated.

"I cannot say, I'm sure," I replied.

"No, suh," he agreed. "Doubtless you are partial to your own stock. That
bottle which I see doesn't happen to be a sample of your favorite
preservative?"

"That?" I retorted. "It is toilet water. I am sorry to say I have no
liquor with me."

"The deficiency will soon be forgotten, suh," the Colonel bravely
consoled. "Bill, we shall have to personally conduct him and provide him
with the proper entertainment."

"What is your special line o' business, if you don't mind my axin'?" Bill
invited.

"I am out here for my health, at present," said I, vainly hunting a clean
spot on the towel. "I have been advised by my physician to seek a place in
the Far West that is high and dry. Benton"--and I laughed miserably,
"certainly is dry." For now I began to appreciate the frankly affirmative
responses to my previous confessions. "And high, judging by the rates."

"Healthily dry, suh, in the matter of water," the Colonel approved. "We
are not cursed by the humidity of New York State, grand old State that she
is. Foh those who require water, there is the Platte only three miles
distant. The nearer proximity of water we consider a detriment to the
robustness of a community. Our rainy weather is toler'bly infrequent. The
last spell we had--lemme see. There was a brief shower, scurcely enough to
sanction a parasol by a lady, last May, warn't it, Bill? When we was
camped at Rawlins' Springs, shooting antelope."

"Some'ers about that time. But didn't last long--not more'n two minutes,"
Bill respond