OLD MAN EEED 155 



querulous in expression. He glared ferociously at 

 Eeed, apparently more from embarrassment, how- 

 ever, .than from ill will. 



' ' Well, Jake," ejaculated the hermit, after a brief 

 stare of surprise, "did ye find them burros ?" 



"Uh-huh!" responded the quaint looking person- 

 age addressed. Then, as his gaze wandered to the 

 nails along the wall, he coloured violently. 



* i Where 'bouts is my hat ! " he complained, ' ' seems 

 like a fellor can't step outside but what some dum 

 galoot has t' move his b 'longings." 



The hat, after a short search, was produced in- 

 tact. When I left a little later the two old cronies 

 were talking together as cosily as if they had never 

 been separated for a moment. 



I heard sometime after that another quarrel had 

 taken place and that Jake had left once more. This 

 might have occasioned a sad condition of affairs at 

 Eeed's ranch which we observed when next we saw 

 the hermit and which will be described in due course. 



