old days Bill had not known it, either.
But an honest life, and since then the thought that he was doing good
for the boy who had saved Beth's life, had had a very developing effect
on him.

They talked a great deal more after that, each giving more details about
himself, but Bill insisting on hearing most about Harry, and what he had
done and where he had been, and his interest in Missoo was simply
intense.

"You shall see him, to-night," promised Harry. "We will go down now,
keeping out of sight as much as we can, and I will take you right to his
room. He'll be wondering where I am. He said he'd like to see you."

"See me!" cried Bill, pleasure and surprise about equally divided. "What
does he know about me?"

"Why, I told him how you saved my life, of course."

They walked down, and Harry led Bill to the house where Missoo was lying
in bed. He was much better, but was not able to go about, though he
chafed at the notion of Big Missouri being laid up with "a burnt spot on
his back."

"I was gettin' lonesome, Gent," he said. "Who's yer friend?" and he eyed
Bill over carefully.

"Did you ever hear me speak of Bill Green?" asked Harry.

Missoo lifted himself up on his elbow and looked at Bill.

"Not Bill Green, thet got ye outen thet burnin' mill?" he questioned, to
Bill's extravagant delight to think that the great, the famous Missoo
had actually kept his name in his memory.

"The very same Bill Green," assured Harry.

"Bill, shake!" said Missoo, briefly. And when he had shaken the hand of
the delighted Bill, he held it for a moment, and said to him, "Bill,
when ye saved the life o' thet thar Gent, ye saved my life, too, which
is wuthless, an' ye saved the lives o' twenty men, some o' them with
babbies, 'n some o' them with mothers. Shet up, Gent; I'm talkin'! Ye
saved the life, Bill, of a feller what's sand--emery sand, which is the
best kind--what's sand down to his toes. Bill, I'm proud to take ye by
the hand; 'n I bet ye've got sand yerself."

"So he has, Missoo, as you'll understand, when I tell you his story some
day," replied Harry.

"Why not now?" asked Missoo.

Harry made a sign to Bill, and answered:

"Because I want to talk about other things with him. You won't mind if
we talk before you, will you, Missoo?"

"Mind ye a-talkin'! Thet's music to me, thet is, Gent," said the
admiring giant.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Harry had a two-fold reason for not telling Missoo his adventu