foot dangerously high in the air, and the movement
caused him to upset the child's balance, so that his upper part
promptly disappeared beneath the frothing suds. A wild splashing and
yell from Vada warned her father of the threatened tragedy, and Jamie
was hauled up, coughing and spluttering. The little man, with scared
face, sought at once to pacify the frightened child, while Sunny
withered the interfering widower with a few well-chosen words.

"Say, you'd butt in an' tell folk they wasn't nailin' up your coffin
right," he cried angrily. "Will you kep that instrument o' foolishness
o' yours quiet fer ten minutes?"

Sandy flushed.

"They ain't got hides like hogs," he grumbled. "They needs handlin'
easy. Say, jest look what he's doin' now. What's--"

He broke off, and all eyes watched Scipio's movements as he turned
Jamie over, and, supporting his dripping body in the crook of his arm,
plied the flannel upon the boy's back. The moment was a tense one.
Then a sigh of relief went up as the child dropped back in the water
with a splash.

"I ain't never see kids handled that way," cried the disgusted Sandy,
unable to keep silence any longer. Then, as no one seemed inclined to
question his statement, he went on, "Wot I sez is, kids needs
women-folk to do they things right. Zip's handlin' 'em like raw beef."
Then he turned on Sunny, whose rebuke was still rankling. "Guess
you'll say he ain't--bein' contrary. Now, ef I was washin' 'em,
I'd--"

"Shut up," cried Wild Bill harshly. Then he added, with biting
sarcasm, "I ain't surprised you're a widder-man."

Toby made no attempt to disguise his laughter, and it maddened the
unfortunate Sandy; and if a look could have killed, Sunny would have
died grinning. However, the widower sheltered himself in the silence
demanded of him until the children were lifted out of the tub and
dried by their patient father. Nor did he even attempt to further
interfere while their parent struggled them into their little woolen
undershirts.

CHAPTER XXIV

--A BIBLE TALK

It was with a sigh of relief that Scipio now turned to Wild Bill.
Somehow, he naturally looked to him for guidance. Nor did he quite
know why.

"'Bout that Bible talk?" he inquired. "Guess you said they best set
around in the sun."

Bill nodded.

"I sure did. Guess they kind o' need airin' some. 'Tain't no use in
settin' in their clothes damp; they'll be gettin' sick, sure. Ther's a
dandy bit o' grass rig