"If it's your idea,"pursued Mr.McLean,alluringly,as the three took cautious steps nearer the curb,"that blue,clasped hands in a circle of red stars gives the bearer the right to put folks in the jug--why,I'll get somebody else to black my boots for a dollar."The three made a swift rush,fell on simultaneous knees,and clattering their boxes down,began to spit in an industrious circle.
"Easy!"wheedled Mr.McLean,and they looked up at him,staring and fascinated."Not having three feet,"said the cow-puncher,always grave and slow,"I can only give two this here job.""He's got a big pistol and a belt!"exulted the leader,who had precociously felt beneath Lin's coat.
"You're a smart boy,"said Lin,considering him,"and yu'find a man out right away.Now you stand off and tell me all about myself while they fix the boots--and a dollar goes to the quickest through."Young Billy and his tow-headed competitor flattened down,each to a boot,with all their might,while the leader ruefully contemplated Mr.McLean.
"That's a Colt .45you've got,"ventured he.
"Right again.Some day,maybe,you'll be wearing one of your own,if the angels don't pull yu'before you're ripe.""I'm through!"sang out Towhead,rising in haste.
Small Billy was struggling still,but leaped at that,the two heads bobbing to a level together;and Mr.McLean,looking down,saw that the arrangement had not been a good one for the boots.
"Will you kindly referee,"said he,forgivingly,to the leader,"and decide which of them smears is the awfulest?"But the leader looked the other way and played upon a mouth-organ.
"Well,that saves me money,"said Mr.McLean,jingling his pocket."Iguess you've both won."He handed each of them a dollar."Now,"he continued,"I just dassent show these boots uptown;so this time it's a dollar for the best shine."The two went palpitating at their brushes again,and the leader played his mouth-organ with brilliant unconcern.Lin,tall and brooding leaned against the jutting sill of the window,a figure somehow plainly strange in town,while through the bright plate-glass Santa Claus,holding out his beer and sausages,perpetually beamed.
Billy was laboring gallantly,but it was labor,the cow-puncher perceived,and Billy no seasoned expert."See here,"said Lin,stooping,"I'll show yu'how it's done.He's playin'that toon cross-eyed enough to steer anybody crooked.There.Keep your blacking soft,and work with a dry brush.""Lemme,"said Billy."I've got to learn."So he finished the boot his own way with wiry determination,breathing and repolishing;and this event was also adjudged a dead heat,with results gratifying to both parties.
So here was their work done,and more money in their pockets than from all the other boots and shoes of this day;and Towhead and Billy did not wish for further trade,but to spend this handsome fortune as soon as might be.Yet they delayed in the brightness of the window,drawn by curiosity near this new kind of man whose voice held them and whose remarks dropped them into constant uncertainty.Even the omitted leader had been unable to go away and nurse his pride alone.
"Is that a secret society?"inquired Towhead,lifting a finger at the badge.Mr.McLean nodded."Turruble,"said he.
"You're a Wells &Fargo detective,"asserted the leader.
"Play your harp,"said Lin.
"Are you a--a desperaydo?"whispered Towhead.
"Oh,my!"observed Mr.McLean,sadly;"what has our Jack been readin'?""He's a cattle-man!"cried Billy."I seen his heels.""That's you!"said the discovered puncher,with approval."You'll do.But I bet you can't tell me what we wearers of this badge have sworn to do this night."At this they craned their necks and glared at him.
"We--are--sworn--don't yu'jump,now,and give me away--sworn--to--blow off three bootblacks to a dinner.""Ah,pshaw!"They backed away,bristling with distrust.
"That's the oath,fellows.Yu'may as well make your minds up--for I have it to do!""Dare you to!Ah!"
"And after dinner it's the Opera-house,to see "The Children of Captain Cant'!"They screamed shrilly at him,keeping off beyond the curb.
"I can't waste my time on such smart boys,"said Mr.McLean,rising lazily to his full height from the window-sill."I am goin'somewhere to find boys that ain't so turruble quick stampeded by a roast turkey."He began to lounge slowly away,serious as he had been throughout,and they,stopping their noise short,swiftly picked up their boxes,and followed him.Some change in the current of electricity that fed the window disturbed its sparkling light,so that Santa Claus,with his arms stretched out behind the departing cow-puncher seemed to be smiling more broadly from the midst of his flickering brilliance.
On their way to turkey,the host and his guests exchanged but few remarks.He was full of good-will,and threw off a comment or two that would have led to conversation under almost any circumstances save these;but the minds of the guests were too distracted by this whole state of things for them to be capable of more than keeping after Mr.McLean in silence,at a wary interval,and with their mouths,during most of the journey,open.The badge,the pistol,their patron's talk,and the unusual dollars,wakened wide their bent for the unexpected,their street affinity for the spur of the moment;they believed slimly in the turkey part of it,but what this man might do next,to be there when he did it,and not to be trapped,kept their wits jumping deliciously;so when they saw him stop,they stopped instantly too,ten feet out of reach.This was Denver's most civilized restaurant--that one which Mr.McLean had remembered,with foreign dishes and private rooms,where he had promised himself,among other things,champagne.Mr.McLean had never been inside it,but heard a tale from a friend;and now he caught a sudden sight of people among geraniums,with plumes and white shirt-fronts,very elegant.
