along up from the river. Looked like he was comin" this way. How"s the kids?"
"Why, bully," said Scipio amiably. "Y"see, I got "em fixed right all right since Sunny wrote out those regulations for me. Those regulations are jest dandy, and I"m desperate obliged to him. A feller would need to be a b.u.m sort of fool, anyhow, who couldn"t fix kids right with it all set out so careful. There sure are things set down there I"d never have thought of--an" I"m their father, too." He paused and glanced nervously round at the friendly faces. Then, with evident anxiety, he hurried on. "I was just thinkin"," he exclaimed, "maybe some hot coffee wouldn"t come amiss. Y"see, I ain"t no rye. Guess I"ll make that coffee right away. I got water cooking on the stove. I was goin" to use it for bathin" the kids, but--"
His visitors exchanged swift glances, and Sunny broke in. "Don"t do it, Zip," he said with an amiable grin. "These boys don"t figger to unpickle their vitals with no sech truck as coffee. Say"--his eyes wandered to where his carefully written regulations were posted, "talkin" o" baths, have you physicked the kids right?"
Scipio, feeling somewhat relieved, returned to his chair and lodged himself upon its edge. He could not settle himself at his ease.
Somehow he felt that these men were entirely his superior in all those things which count for manhood; and the kindness of such a visit rather overwhelmed him. Then, too, he was sincerely regretting his inadequate hospitality. Now he became nervously enthusiastic.
"I sure did," he cried eagerly. "Those physics were real elegant. If you"ll tell me what they cost you, Sunny, I"ll square up now. How--"
He pulled out some money, but the loafer waved it aside with ridiculous dignity.
"Thievin" doctors needs pay. I ain"t no b.u.m doc. What you give "em--the kids?"
Scipio bundled his money back into his pocket, flushing at the thought that he had unintentionally insulted his benefactor.
"Well," he said thoughtfully, "I didn"t give "em no corn cure. Y"see,"
he added apologetically, "I couldn"t find no corns on "em to speak of.
But," he went on more hopefully, "I give "em the cough cure. They ain"t got no coughs, neither of "em, but, seein" they was to take a bath, I guessed it "ud be a kind of precaution. Then there were them powders. How were they called? Why--Lick--Lick--well, they were called Lick--something. Anyways, I give "em one each. They didn"t take "em easy, an" was nigh sick, but they got "em down after awhile. Then, seein" they got bruises on their legs, playin", I rubbed "em good with hoss lin"ment. After that I give "em some o" that tonic--quinine an"
something. An" then, seein" they couldn"t eat food this mornin", an"
had got sick headaches, I give "em one o" them fizzy Seidlitz fellers between "em. Jamie bein" the smallest I give him the thin white packet, an" the other, the blue one, I give to Vada. That seemed to fix them good, an I guess they"re most ready fer their baths by now."
"I guessed you"d treat "em right," approved Sunny seriously. "Ther"
ain"t nothin" like physic. You"re sure a wise guy, Zip."
Sandy Joyce agreed, too.
"You was dead right," he said impressively. "It don"t never do takin"
chances with kids o" that age. Chances is b.u.m things, anyway. Y"see, kids ken ketch such a heap o" things. Ther"s bile, an" measles, an"
dropsy, an" cancer, an" hydryfoby, an" all kinds o" things. They"s li"ble to ketch "em as easy as gettin" flies wi" mola.s.ses. An" some o"
them is ter"ble bad. Ever had hydryfoby? No? Wal, I ain"t neither, but I see a feller with it oncet, an" he jest went around barkin" like a camp dog chasin" after swill bar"ls, an" was scared to death o"
water--"
"Some folks don"t need hydryfoby fer that," put in Toby, with a grin.
"Ther" ain"t no call fer you b.u.t.tin" in," flashed Sandy angrily.
"Guess I"m talkin" o" things you ain"t heerd tell of. You ain"t out o"
your cradle yet."
He turned back to his host and prepared to continue his list of horrors, but Sunny forestalled him.
"Talkin" o" water," he said, "you ain"t bathed the kids yet?"
Scipio shook his head.
"The water"s cookin"."
"Cookin"?" Toby whistled.
Sunny sat up, all interest.
"Hot bath?" he inquired, with wide eyes. "You ain"t givin" "em a _hot_ bath?" he exclaimed incredulously.
A troubled look came into Scipio"s pale eyes. He doubted his purpose in face of his friends" astonishment.
"Why, yes. That"s how I _was_ thinking," he said weakly. "Y"see, I guessed it would soften the dirt quicker, and make it easy wipin" it off."
"But ain"t you scared o" them--peelin"?" inquired Sandy, refusing to be left out of the discussion.
Scipio looked perplexed.
"Peelin"?" he said. "I--I don"t think I get you."
"Why," explained Sandy readily, "peelin" their skins off "em. You allus sets potatoes in b"ilin" water to git their skins peeled quick.
Same with hogs. Same with most anything. I call that a fool chance to take."
Scipio"s perplexity merged into a mild smile.
"I wouldn"t jest set "em into boilin" water," he explained; "kind of warm, with a bit o" soda."
Sunny approved.
"That sure don"t sound too bad," he declared. "But wot about "em gettin" cold? Takin" all that dirt off sudden, y"see--"
"He"s dosed "em wi" cough cure," broke in Toby.
"Sure," agreed Sunny. "I"d fergot--Say"--he turned to the doorway and craned towards it--"here"s--here"s Wild Bill coming along."
Toby promptly scrambled up from the door-sill and made way for the Trust president. He strode into the room with a quick glance round and a short, harsh "Howdy?" for the lesser members of his corporation. His manner towards Scipio was no less unbending.
And, curiously enough, his coming silenced all further discussion.
Scipio had nothing to say whatever, and the others felt that here was their leader from whom they must take their cue.
Nor was it long in coming. Scipio rose and offered his chair to the newcomer, but the gambler promptly kicked the proffered seat aside, and took up his position on the fuel-box. He glared into the little man"s face for a few seconds, and then opened his lips.
"Wal?" he drawled.
Scipio stirred uneasily.
"I"m real glad to see you, Bill," he managed to mumble out. "I ain"t got no rye--"
"Rye--h.e.l.l!" The gambler was not a patient man, and the laws of hospitality interested him not in the least. "Say"--he pointed at the open Bible on the table beside Sandy--"takin" on psalm-smitin"?"
Scipio hurled himself into the breach.
"It"s them regulations Sunny give me for raisin" the kids. They need a Bible talk after their bath. I bin readin" up some."
A momentary twinkle flashed into the gambler"s eyes.