itatively to the coffee
pot. After an undecided moment he walked uncertainly to the stove and
poured himself a cup of coffee.

Casey lifted the cup to drink, but the smell of it under his nose
sickened him. He weaved uncertainly to the door, opened it and threw
out the coffee--cup and all. Which was nature flying a storm flag, had
any one with a clear head been there to observe the action and the look
on Casey's face.

"Gimme another shot uh that damn' hootch," he growled. Joe pushed the
bottle toward Casey, eyeing him curiously.

"That stuff they run yesterday shore is kicky," Joe ruminated
sympathetically. "Pap's proud as pups over it. He thinks it's the
real article--but I dunno. Shore laid yuh out, Casey, an' yuh never
got much, neither. Not enough t' lay yuh out the way it did. Y' look
sick."

"I AM sick!" Casey snarled, and poured himself a drink more generous
than was wise. "When Casey Ryan says he's sick, you can put it down
he's SICK! He don't want nobody tellin' 'im whether 'e's sick 'r
not.--he KNOWS 'e's sick!" He drank, and swore that it was rotten
stuff not fit for a hawg (which was absolute truth). Then he staggered
to the stove, picked up the coffee pot, carried it to the door and
flung it savagely outside because the odor offended him.

"Mart got back last night," Joe announced casually. "You was dead t'
the world. But we told 'im you was all right, an' I guess he aims t'
give yuh steady work an' a cut-in on the deal. We been cleanin' up
purty good money--but Mart says the market ain't what it was; too many
gone into the business. You're a good cook an' a good miner an' a
purty good feller all around--only the boss says you'll have t' cut out
the booze."

"'J you tell 'im you MADE me drink it?" Casey halted in the middle of
the floor, facing Joe indignantly.

"I told 'im I put it up t' yuh straight--what your business is, an'
all. You got no call t' kick--didn't I go swipe this bottle uh booze
for yuh t' sober up on, soon as the boss's back was turned? I knowed
yuh needed it; that's why. We all needed it. I'm just tellin' yuh the
boss don't approve of no celebrations like we had yest'day. I got up
early an' hauled that burro outa sight 'fore he seen it. That's how
much a friend I be, an' it wouldn't hurt yuh none to show a little
gratitude!"

"Gratitude, hell! A lot I got in life t' be grateful for!" Casey
slumped down on the nearest bench, laid his injured hand carefull