The miner was enraged, but a second later a great gush of thankfulness
and relief surged upward in his heart. At least, the little man would
not have been out all night in the hills! Then growing sick in turn,
he thought this explanation would be too good to be true. It was
madness--only a hope! He clung to it tenaciously, however, then gave
it up, only to snatch it back again in desperation as he hastened home
to his cabin.
"Keno, wake up," he cried to his lodger, shaking him briskly by the
shoulder. "Keno! Keno!"
"What's the matter? Time for breakfast?" asked Keno, drowsily, risking
only half an eye with which to look about. "Why not call me gently?"
"Get up!" commanded Jim. "I have thought of where little Skeezucks has
gone!"
"Where?" cried Keno, suddenly aroused. "I'll go and kill the cuss that
took him off!"
"Miss Doc!" replied the miner. "Miss Doc!"
"Miss Doc?" repeated Keno, weakly, pausing in the act of pulling on his
boots. "By jinks! Say, I couldn't kill no woman, Jim. How do you
know?"
"Stands to reason," Jim replied, and explaining his premises rapidly
and clearly, he punched poor Keno into something almost as good as
activity.
"By jinks! I can't believe it," said Keno, who did believe it with
fearful thoroughness.
Pages:
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93