Part 32 (2/2)

For afowl iht hand Then he presently broke again into verse

Around the world and back again;it all The land and the hot old plain fro all the tie, hoof it, ride or cliood sort,” he broke off, suddenly ”There ain't many boes that would have done as ainst one,” replied Billy, ”an' I don't like theet it--hed the other ”If I could do that I wouldn't be pan-handling A guy by the name of Henry Herbert Knibbs did theht where I live,” and then, after a pause; ”sure you got enough fer two, bo?”

”I have enough for you, old top,” replied the host, ”even if I only had half as much as I have Here, take first crack at the ale cup; but James has broken the others James is very careless Soo”

”Who's James?” asked Billy

”James? Oh, James is my man,” replied the other

Billy looked up at his companion quizzically, then he tasted the dark, thick concoction in the tin can

”This is coffee,” he announced ”I thought you said it was anize it, hly couess what it is from its taste”

For severalthe tin can back and forth, and slicing--hacking would be more nearly correct--pieces of meat from the half-roasted fowl It was Billy who broke the silence

”I think,” said he, ”that you been stringin' ood-naturedly

”You are not offended, I hope,” said he ”This is a sad old world, you know, and we're all looking for auy has no money to buy it with, he has to manufacture it”

”Sure, I ain't sore,” Billy assured hiain 'bout Penelope with the kisses on her mouth, an' you can kid me till the cows come home”

The camper by the creek did as Billy asked hi in the sputtering little flames the oval face of her as Penelope to him

When the verse was completed he reached forth his hand and took the tin can in his strong fingers, raising it before his face

”Here's to--to his Knibbs!” he said, and drank, passing the battered thing over to his new friend

”Yes,” said the other; ”here's to his Knibbs, and--Penelope!”

”Drink hearty,” returned Billy Byrne

The poetical one drew a sack of tobacco froe of papers fro both toward Billy

”Want the ,” said Billy; ”but et even some day, and I sure do want a sot nothin'--they didn't leave me a sou markee”

Billy reached across one end of the fire for the tobacco and cigarette papers As he did so the ht fell upon it the marks of the steel bracelet showed vividly In the fall from the train the metal had bitten into the flesh