Part 5 (1/2)

Then he hitched his chair closer to the Thread Man, and grew more confidential. ”Shee here,” he said. ”Firsht I see your pleated coat, didn't like. But head's all right. Great head! Sthuck on frillsh there!

Want to be let in on something? Got enough city, clubsh, an' all that?

Want to taste real thing? Lesh go c.o.o.n huntin'. Theysh tree down Canoper, jish short pleashant walk, got fify c.o.o.ns in it! n.o.body knowsh the tree but me, shee? Been good to ush boys. Sat on same kind of chairs we do. Educate ush up lot. Know mosht that poetry till I die, shee? 'Wonner wash vinters buy, halfsh precious ash sthuff sh.e.l.l,'

shee? I got it! Let you in on real thing. Take grand big c.o.o.n skinch back to Boston with you. Ringsh on tail. Make wife fine m.u.f.f, or fur tr.i.m.m.i.n.gsh. Good to till boysh at club about, shee?”

”Are you asking me to go on a c.o.o.n hunt with you?” demanded the Thread Man. ”When? Where?”

”Corshally invited,” answered Jimmy. ”To-morrow night. Canoper. Show you plashe. Bill Duke's dogs. My gunsh. Moonsh s.h.i.+nin'. Dogs howlin'.

Shnow flying! Fify c.o.o.nsh rollin' out one hole! Shoot all dead! Take your pick! Tan skin for you myself! Roaring big firesh warm by. Bag finesh sandwiches ever tasted. Milk pail pure gold drink. No stop, slop out going over bridge. Take jug. Big jug. Toss her up an' let her gurgle. Dogsh bark. Fire pop. Guns bang. Fifty c.o.o.ns drop. Boysh all go. Want to get more education. Takes culture to get woolsh off. Shay, will you go?”

”I wouldn't miss it for a thousand dollars,” said the Thread Man. ”But what will I say to my house for being a day late?”

”Shay gotter grip,” suggested Jimmy. ”Never too late to getter grip.

Will you all go, boysh?”

There were not three men in the saloon who knew of a tree that had contained a c.o.o.n that winter, but Jimmy was Jimmy, and to be trusted for an expedition of that sort; and all of them agreed to be at the saloon ready for the hunt at nine o'clock the next night. The Thread Man felt that he was going to see Life. He immediately invited the boys to the bar to drink to the success of the hunt.

”You shoot own c.o.o.n yourself,” offered the magnanimous Jimmy. ”You may carrysh my gunsh, take first shot. First shot to Missher O'Khayam, boysh, 'member that. Shay, can you hit anything? Take a try now.” Jimmy reached behind him, and shoved a big revolver into the hand of the Thread Man. ”Whersh target?” he demanded.

As he turned from the bar, the milk pail which he still carried under his arm caught on an iron rod. Jimmy gave it a jerk, and ripped the rim from the bottom. ”Thish do,” he said. ”Splendid marksh. s.h.i.+nesh jish like c.o.o.n's eyesh in torch light.”

He carried the pail to the back wall and hung it over a nail. The nail was straight, and the pail flaring. The pail fell. Jimmy kicked it across the room, and then gathered it up, and drove a dent in it with his heel that would hold over the nail. Then he went back to the Thread Man. ”Theresh mark, Ruben. Blash away!” he said.

The Boston man hesitated. ”Whatsh the matter? Cansh shoot off nothing but your mouth?” demanded Jimmy. He caught the revolver and fired three shots so rapidly that the sounds came almost as one. Two bullets pierced the bottom of the pail, and the other the side as it fell.

The door opened, and with the rush of cold air Jimmy gave just one glance toward it, and slid the revolver into his pocket, reached for his hat, and started in the direction of his coat. ”Glad to see you, Micnoun,” he said. ”If you are goingsh home, I'll jish ride out with you. Good night, boysh. Don't forgetsh the c.o.o.n hunt,” and Jimmy was gone.

A minute later the door opened again, and this time a man of nearly forty stepped inside. He had a manly form, and a manly face, was above the average in looks, and spoke with a slight Scotch accent.

”Do any of ye boys happen to know what it was Jimmy had with him when he came in here?”

A roar of laughter greeted the query. The Thread Man picked up the pail. As he handed it to Dannie, he said: ”Mr. Malone said he was initiating a new milk pail, but I am afraid he has overdone the job.”

”Thank ye,” said Dannie, and taking the battered thing, he went out into the night.

Jimmy was asleep when he reached the buggy. Dannie had long since found it convenient to have no fence about his dooryard. He drove to the door, dragged Jimmy from the buggy, and stabled the horse. By hard work he removed Jimmy's coat and boots, laid him across the bed, and covered him. Then he grimly looked at the light in the next cabin. ”Why doesna she go to bed?” he said. He summoned courage, and crossing the s.p.a.ce between the two buildings, he tapped on the window. ”It's me, Mary,” he called. ”The skins are only half done, and Jimmy is going to help me finish. He will come over in the morning. Ye go to bed. Ye needna be afraid. We will hear ye if ye even snore.” There was no answer, but by a movement in the cabin Dannie knew that Mary was still dressed and waiting. He started back, but for an instant, heedless of the scurrying snow and biting cold, he faced the sky.

”I wonder if ye have na found a glib tongue and light feet the least part o' matrimony,” he said. ”Why in G.o.d's name couldna ye have married me? I'd like to know why.”

As he closed the door, the cold air roused Jimmy.

”Dannie,” he said, ”donsh forget the milk pail. All 'niciate good now.”

Chapter III

THE FIFTY c.o.o.nS OF THE CANOPER

Near noon of the next day, Jimmy opened his eyes and stretched himself on Dannie's bed. It did not occur to him that he was sprawled across it in such a fas.h.i.+on that if Dannie had any sleep that night, he had taken it on chairs before the fireplace. At first Jimmy decided that he had a head on him, and would turn over and go back where he came from. Then he thought of the c.o.o.n hunt, and sitting on the edge of the bed he laughed, as he looked about for his boots.

”I am glad ye are feeling so fine,” said Dannie at the door, in a relieved voice. ”I had a notion that ye wad be crosser than a badger when ye came to.”