ed at Corliss. The
waiter vocalized his attitude with the brief assertion that there was
"nothin' doin'."

"It's him!" said Shoop.

"I got the price," came from the unseen.

"Then you beat it around to the front," suggested the waiter.

Shoop called for another cup of coffee. As the waiter brought it,
Sundown, hatless, begrimed, and showing the effects of an unupholstered
journey, appeared in the doorway. Shoop turned and stood up.

"Well, if it ain't me old pal Buddy!" exclaimed Sundown. "What you
doin' in this here burg?"

"Why, hello, Hawkins! Where'd you fall from? How's things over to
Homer?"

Sundown took the hint and fabricated a heart-rending tale of an
all-night ride on "a cayuse that had been tryin' to get rid of him ever
since he started and had finally piled him as the Flyer tooted for
Usher."

"You do look kind o' shook-up. Better eat."

"I sure got room," said Sundown. "Fetch me a basket of doughnuts and a
pail of coffee. That there Fly--cayuse sure left me, but he didn't
take me appetite."

After the third cup of coffee and the seventh doughnut, Sundown
asserted that he felt better. They sauntered out to the street.

"How in blazes did you get loose?" queried Shoop, surveying the unkempt
adventurer with frank amazement.

"Blazes is correct. I clumb out of the window."

"Set her on fire?"

"Not with mellishus extent, as the judge says. Mebby it was a
cigarette. I dunno. First thing I know I was dreamin' I smelt smoke
and the dream sure come true. If them bars had been a leetle closter
together, I reckon I would be tunin' a harp, right now."

"How did you happen to jump our train--and get off here?" asked Corliss.

"It was sure lucky," said Sundown, grinning. "I run 'round back of the
station and snook up and crawled under the platform in front. I could
see everybody hoppin' 'round and I figured I was safer on the job,
expectin' they'd be lookin' for me to beat it out of town. Then you
fellas come up and stood talkin' right over me head. Bud he says
somethin' about eatin' breakfast in Usher, and bein' hungry and likin'
good comp'ny, I waits till the train pulls up and crawls under the
baggage. And here I be."

"We'll have to get you a hat and a coat. We'll stop at the next
barber-shop. You wash up and get shaved. We'll wait. Then we'll head
for the court-house."

"Me ranch?" And Sundown beamed through his grime. "Makes me feel like
writin' a pome! Now, meb