part of the world he chose to wander.

He stood with his hand in his pocket, chewing his quid, and
complacently viewing the operations of the boy, who was not a little
surprised to understand how he obtained entrance into his shop.

'Stopped at the house to ax whar old Washoe Pete keeps his hotel,'
replied the stranger, rightly surmising the query which was agitating
him, 'and I cotched a glimpse of yer old machine. Thought I'd come in
and see what in blazes it war. Looks to me like a man that's gwine to
run by steam.'

'That's just what it is,' replied the boy, seeing there was no use in
attempting to conceal the truth from the man.

'Will it do it?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Don't think you mean to lie, younker, but I don't believe any such
stuff as that.'

'It don't make any difference to me whether you believe me or not,'
was the quiet reply of the boy; 'but if you will come inside and shut
the door, and let me fasten it, so that there will be no danger of our
being disturbed, I will soon show you.'

These two personages, so unlike in almost every respect, had taken
quite a fancy to each other. The strong, hardy, bronzed trapper,
powerful in all that goes to make up the physical man, looked upon the
pale, sweet-faced boy, with his misshapen body, as an affectionate
father would look upon an afflicted child.

On the other hand, the brusque, outspoken manner of the hunter pleased
the appreciative mind of the boy, who saw much to admire, both in his
appearance and manner.

'I don't s'pose yer know me,' said the stranger, as he stepped inside
and allowed the boy to secure the door behind him.

'I never saw you before.'

'I am Baldy Bicknell, though I ginerally go by the name of 'Baldy.''

'That's rather an odd name.'

'Yas; that's the reason.'

As he spoke, the stranger removed his hat and displayed his
clean-shaven pate.

'Yer don't understand that, eh? That 'ere means I had my ha'r lifted
ten years ago. The Sioux war the skunks that done it. After they took
my top-knot off. It had grow'd on ag'in and that's why they call me
Baldy.'

In the mean time the door had been closed, and all secured. The hat of
the steam man emptied its smoke and steam into a section of
stove-pipe, which led into the chimney, so that no suspicion of
anything unusual could disturb the passers-by in the street.

'You see it won't do to let him walk here, for when I tried it first,
he went straight through the side of the house; bu