n't set there
trying to look wise, Tex--telling me what to do and how to do it. You
can't put anything over on me; your work is too raw. Al-to-gether too
raw!"

He glanced sidewise at a circular letter he had dropped, picked it up
and began reading it slowly, one eye squinted against the smoke of his
cigarette, his manner that of supreme indifference to Tex and all his
kind. Johnny could be very, very indifferent when he chose.

He did not really believe that Tex was trying to put anything over on
him; he just said that to show Tex he didn't give a darn one way or the
other. But Tex seemed to take it seriously, and glowered at Johnny from
under his black eyebrows that had a hawklike arch.

"What yo' all think I'm trying to put over? Hey? What yo' all mean by
that statement?"

Johnny looked up, one eye still squinted against the smoke. The other
showed surprise back of the indifference. "You there yet?" he wanted to
know. "What's the big idea? Gone to roost for the night?"

Tex leaned toward him, waggling one finger at Johnny. The outer end of
his eyebrows were twitching--a sign of anger in Tex, as Johnny knew well.

"What yo' all got up yore sleeve--saying my work is raw! What yo' all
aimin' at? That's what I'm roostin' here to learn."

Johnny fanned away the smoke and gave a little chuckle meant to
exasperate Tex, which it did.

"I guess the roosting's going to be pretty good," he said. "You better
send cookee word to bring your meals to yuh, Tex. Because if you roost
there till I tell yuh, you'll be roosting a good long while!" He got up
and lounged out, his hands in his pockets, his well-shaped head carried
at a provocative tilt. He heard Tex swear under his breath and mutter
something about making the darned little runt come through yet, whereat
Johnny grinned maliciously.

Halfway to the corral, however, Johnny's steps slowed as though he were
walking straight up to a wall. The wall was there, but it was mental, and
it was his mind that halted before it, astonished.

What had touched Tex off so suddenly when Johnny had flung out that
meaningless taunt? Meaningless to Johnny--but how about Tex?

"Gosh! He took it like a guilty conscience," said Johnny. "What the
horn-toad has Tex been doin'?"

CHAPTER THREE

JOHNNY GOES GAILY ENOUGH TO SINKHOLE

Johnny Jewel, moved by the fluctuating determination of the young, went
to bed that night fully resolved that he would not quit a good job just
bec