Part 25 (2/2)

”Macgregor,” said the General shortly.

”Yes, Mr. Macgregor. There's a deuce of a mistake been made, but I take it you will not suffer. There are plenty of--ah--positions--places, I believe, where you will find--ah--opportunity. But if you will excuse me, I am busy for the moment. I shall doubtless see you again before you leave.”

Shock bowed in silence.

”Blank cad!” muttered the General. Then turning to Shock he said, with hearty interest showing in his tone, ”Where do you put up, Mr.

Macgregor?”

”I do not know the town at all. I shall have to look about for a boarding place of some kind, I suppose.” Shock's smile was rather uncertain.

The General was evidently interested in this stranger, and touched by his forlorn condition.

”The Royal there,” pointing down the street, ”is the best hotel. They do you there not so badly. They may give you accommodation for a night, but I fancy it will be rather difficult to find a boarding house. But,”

he added heartily, ”why not come to me in the meantime? Mrs. Brady and myself will be most happy to have you visit us for a few weeks, till you find quarters. I have, unfortunately, an engagement that will keep me late in town to-night, else I should insist on your accompanying me at once--an engagement which I cannot well break. In short, this is our annual spring meeting of the Turf a.s.sociation, and there is in connection with it some sort of social function to wind the thing up to-night, and Mrs. Brady, being one of the patronesses, and I myself being more or less interested--the president of the a.s.sociation, indeed--we cannot avoid putting in an appearance. And indeed, we enjoy it, sir. We thoroughly enjoy it. It brings to our present crude and somewhat limited life a little bit of the past. But to-morrow I shall be glad to ride down for you, sir, and bring you up to my little place.”

The cordial kindness of this stranger, upon whom he had no claim, touched Shock greatly.

”Thank you again,” he said. ”I cannot tell you how much I feel your kindness. But if you will allow me, I would rather accept your invitation later. I feel I must get settled to my work at once. I have been long on the way, and my work is waiting me.” Then, after a pause, he added simply, ”But your kindness makes me think of a word I have read, 'I was a stranger, and ye took me in.'”

The General bowed in silence, and seeing that Shock was not to be persuaded, shook hands with him once more. ”Come when you will, sir, and stay as long as you can. The sooner you come and the longer you stay, the better we shall be pleased.” And with another courteous bow the General rode off to attend to his duties as President of the Turf a.s.sociation.

As Shock turned back to his buckboard he found Ike waiting him. Ike had been an interested witness of all that had taken place, and while his sympathy had gone completely with Shock and against Macfarren, he had not been quite able to shake off the feeling of humiliation under which he suffered.

”Say, stranger,” he said, touching Shock on the shoulder, and speaking in a low and almost respectful tone, ”there aint a man in the Territories has ever put the dust onto Ike Iveson's pants. Here's twenty-five dollars,” diving deep into his hip pocket and pulling out a plug of tobacco, a knife, and a roll of bills, ”which is a standin'

offer to any man who can circ.u.mvent that there trick. And I want to say,” he continued, with a subdued eagerness in his tone, ”I'll make it fifty if you do it agin.”

Ike's tone was persuasive. There was nothing of resentment in it. It was the tone of a man who had come upon an interesting and puzzling experience, and was anxious to investigate.

”No,” said Shock, backing away from Ike, ”I cannot take that. Besides, it was not a fair throw.”

”Well,” said Ike, much mollified, ”that's so, that's so. And I consider it something handsome in you sayin' so. But that offer stands.”

”All right,” said Shock, smiling a little more broadly. ”I'll remember.

And when I want fifty dollars very badly I may come to you. But,” he added, looking Ike up and down, ”I'll have to be pretty hard pushed before I try.”

”It's a bargain, stranger,” said Ikey, offering a languid hand. Shock grasped it warmly. A slight tremour ran over Ike's lanky frame as Shock's hand closed on his.

”Je--roo--sa--lem!” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, drawing in his breath, as Shock turned away. ”I'll be ready fer you next time. I prefer a grizzly myself.” He looked down at his finger nails. ”Didn't expect to see 'em on,” he observed. ”And say, boys,” turning to the crowd, ”I surmise he's a preacher, a blank fire-escape.”

At once Ike became the object of various comments. ”--A preacher, Ike?

Say, you'll have to change your ways and go to meetin'.”

”What's Ikey's church, anyway?”

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