ABOUND THE FIRE 57 



discussions. His personality and attitude had 

 piqued my curiosity more than once. Indeed, the 

 non-committal youth with the sensitive features and 

 the punctilious manners was a mystery to all. His 

 past was unknown. His very name, rumour whis- 

 pered, was assumed. But this is not uncommon in 

 New Mexico, even in our effete generation and it is 

 not considered the part of wisdom to remark upon 

 any such eccentricity. 



Since his departure from Hillsboro the packer- 

 musician had appeared distrait and ill at ease, at 

 times dejected and at times restless and nervous. 

 We thought perhaps that he felt uneasy without his 

 violin, which, to our disappointment, he had in- 

 sisted on leaving behind. Brown, however, main- 

 tained that his partner " missed his licker," and that 

 it was only a question of days before he would be im- 

 pelled by his inner craving to go "on one" again. 



