into the gambler's eyes.

"Have you give 'em their bath?" he demanded.

Scipio pointed at the stove, on which the water was already boiling.

"The water's cookin'," he said. "Guess it's most ready." The gambler
glanced round the room severely.

"Then why the devil is you'se fellers settin' around? Wher's the
tub?"

"Down at the creek. It's the wash-tub," Scipio explained, bestirring
himself. The other men stood up ready.

There was no doubt that Bill had taken possession of the situation. He
always seemed to dominate his fellows. Now he caught Scipio's eye and
held him.

"Jest gather the things up quick," he said authoritatively, "an' we'll
get busy."

And as Scipio heaped up the necessary articles for the bath on the
table, he looked on with the keenest interest. Finally the little man
paused beside the heap, holding in his hand the box of water-softener,
which he was eyeing somewhat doubtfully. Bill's eyes still twinkled.

"Wot's that?" he demanded in his savage way, as though he had never
seen the box before.

"That? Why, that's for bathin'," said Scipio doubtfully. "Y'see, it's
a fixin' swell ladies in Noo York an' such places use for makin' their
baths soft an' dandy. Sunny brought it along last night. He guessed it
would be elegant for the kids. Y'see, his mother sent it a present to
him. He didn't reckon he had use for it, seein' he took his bath in
the creek every mornin'. He guessed natural water was best for him."

Bill snorted.

"Sunny's a bright lad," he said, while Toby softly exploded with
laughter in the doorway.

But the gambler was bent on the purpose in hand, and promptly
dismissed the loafer's fairy-story from his mind.

"Here, get around and bear a hand," he cried, indicating the pile on
the table. "You, Toby, quit laffin' an' git a holt on them clean
laundry. An' say, don't you muss 'em any. Sunny, you best pile up them
washin' fixin's--that hand-scrubber, the soap, that wash-flannel an'
the towels. Guess that's the nighest you'll ever come to bathin'
yourself. Sandy Joyce ken carry the hot water, an', if Zip's yaller
pup gets around, see you don't scald him any. Guess I'll handle these
yer dippers. That way Zip'll be free to take the kids along. After
they're bathed they ken set around in the sun, while Zip gives 'em a
real elegant Bible talk."

The whole thing was simplicity itself in the capable hands of a man of
Bill's energy. But for his advent the bath might have been dela