OLD MAN REED 155 
querulous in expression. He glared ferociously at 
Reed, 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. 
‘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 
Reed’s ranch which we observed when next we saw 
the hermit and which will be described in due course. 
