THE WOLF HUNTERS 



that come over old Rich's phiz as he fell all over 

 himself getting 'round behind the counter, asking 

 as he went: * What's the name, my man?' 'Rob- 

 ert Chambers, of F Company, sir,' says Bob, still 

 standing to 'attention.' 



"Well, sir, the old kernel shuffled those letters 

 over two or three times a-tryin' his level best to 

 dig up one for Chambers, an' seemed awfully sorry 

 when he had to say, as he put them back in the 

 pigeonhole: 'No, nothing for you to-day, Cham- 

 bers.' An' he was so sorry to disappoint Bob that 

 he reached over on the shelf an' handed out a plug 

 of tobacco, as he added, sort of regret ful-like: 

 'But there's some of the best navy tobacco you 

 ever smacked your lips over.' 'No doubt of it, 

 kernel, for when you recommend a thing it's bound 

 to be first class, but unfortunately I'm dead broke,' 

 says Chambers. 'Oh, take it along,' says the old 

 man, as he pushed the plug across the counter; 

 'you can hand me the money next pay-day.' An' 

 he was so pleased with Bob's blarney that he 

 never even chalked it down to him; an' I'm dead 

 sure that Chambers didn't remind him of it when 

 pay-day come, for Bob wasn't built that way. 



"As we started out of the store, Bob says over 

 his shoulder like for old Rich to hear, 'Kernel 

 Rich is one of the finest old gentlemen I ever 

 knew.' 



"When we got outside the store door again, Bill 

 Shutts remarked, as he gazed at Chambers in 



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