Part 31 (2/2)
Some of us need a keeper.”
”That's me, Ikey. Yes, I know. Rub it in. It's a keeper I need. Well, I give you my word I am done with this gang. Fool! Fool!” he continued bitterly, ”a cursed fool, Ikey. Three years of it now.”
”That's what,” said Ikey, leading the way down the street. ”For the past two years, boss, you know you've beat me. Though I don't hold myself out as no sort of paradox--”
”Paragon, Ikey,” said The Kid, with a gentle laugh. He always found his cowboy's English amusing.
”Paragon, eh? Well, all the same, I aint no sort of paragon, but I know where to stop.”
”Where are we now, Ike? At the end of the rope, eh?”
”No, by the livin' Gimmini! but gettin' there on the jump,” said Ike, with grave emphasis.
Without further conversation they made their way through the dark streets till they reached Ike's shack.
The doctor lay still asleep in the corner.
”He kidnapped him,” was Ike's explanation to The Kid, nodding his head toward Shock. ”So I'd advise that you hitch on to the preacher here for a period. Give him the job of windin' you up.”
”Could you undertake that, do you think?” There was a curious smile on the boy's face, but an undertone of seriousness in his voice.
”No,” said Shock gravely, ”I could not undertake that.”
”You see, Ike, I am too uncertain. Too far gone, I guess.”
Ike was too puzzled to reply. He had a kind of dim idea that in Shock there was some help for his boss, and he was disappointed at Shock's answer.
For some time Shock sat in silence, looking at the fire. His heart was sore. He felt his helplessness. This clever, gay-hearted young fellow, with all his gentleness of manner, was unapproachable. He belonged to another world, and yet Shock yearned over him with a tenderness inexplicable to himself. The Kid gave him no opening. There was a kind of gay defiance in his bearing, as if he had read Shock's heart and were determined to keep him at arm's length. Instinctively Shock knew that he must wait his opportunity.
”Well, guess we'd better turn in,” suggested Ike. ”Can you two bunk together? That bed'll hold you both, I guess.”
”No, thanks,” said Shock decidedly. ”That is your bed. I'll spread my blankets on the floor.”
”In this country,” said Stanton, ”we give the stranger the bed, so you need not scruple to turn Ike out of his. Ike and I will take the floor.”
”Not this time,” said Shock firmly. ”I am thankful enough for shelter, without taking a man's bed. Besides,” he added, suddenly remembering, ”Ike needs his bed to-night, after his sick turn.”
”Yes, by Jove! By the way,” exclaimed Stanton, ”what happened, Ike?”
”A sudden and unexpected predisposition which takes me now and then,”
turning his back upon Shock and solemnly winking at The Kid; ”but I recover just as quickly, and when I do I'm as slick as ever, and slicker. These here turns work off a lot of bad blood, I guess.”
During his speech he continued winking at The Kid. That young gentleman gazed at him in amazed silence. Gradually, a light broke in upon him.
”Look here, Ike, what in thunder do you mean?”
”I say, boss,” said Ike persuasively, ”just go easy. You oughn't to excite yourself. 'Taint good for you, and 'taint good for me, either.
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