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〃Twenty minutes！ If they'd wait〃
〃See here； Bill。 They've quit expecting yu'； don't yu' think？ I'd ought to
waked； yu' see； but I slep' and slep'； and kep' yu' from meetin' your
engagements； yu' seefor you couldn't go； of course。 A man couldn't treat
a man that way now； could he？〃
〃Course he couldn't；〃 said Billy； brightening。
〃And they wouldn't wait； yu' see。 They wouldn't fool away Christmas；
that only comes onced a year； kickin' their heels and sayin' 'Where's Billy？'
They'd say； 'Bill has sure made other arrangements； which he'll explain to
us at his leesyure。' And they'd skip with the cigars。〃
The advocate paused； effectively； and from his bolster regarded Billy
with a convincing eye。
〃That's so；〃 said Billy。
〃And where would yu' be then； Bill？ In the street； out of friends； out of
Christmas； and left both ways； no tobaccer and no flapjacks。 Now； Bill；
what do yu' say to us putting up a Christmas deal together？ Just you and
me？〃
〃I'd like that；〃 said Billy。 〃Is it all day？〃
〃I was thinkin' of all day；〃 said Lin。 〃I'll not make yu' do anything yu'd
rather not。〃
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〃Ah； they can smoke without me；〃 said Billy； with sudden acrimony。
〃I'll see 'em to…morro'。〃
〃That's you！〃 cried Mr。 McLean。 〃Now； Bill； you hustle down and tell
them to keep a table for us。 I'll get my clothes on and follow yu'。〃
The boy went； and Mr。 McLean procured hot water and dressed
himself； tying his scarf with great care。 〃Wished I'd a clean shirt；〃 said he。
〃But I don't look very bad。 Shavin' yesterday afternoon was a good move。〃
He picked up the arrow…head and the kinni…kinnic； and was particular to
store them in his safest pocket。 〃I ain't sure whether you're crazy or not；〃
said he to the man in the looking…glass。 〃I ain't never been sure。〃 And he
slammed the door and went down…stairs。
He found young Bill on guard over a table for four； with all the chairs
tilted against it as warning to strangers。 No one sat at any other table or
came into the room； for it was late； and the place quite emptied of
breakfasters； and the several entertained waiters had gathered behind
Billy's important…looking back。 Lin provided a thorough meal； and Billy
pronounced the flannel cakes superior to flapjacks； which were not upon
the bill of fare。
〃I'd like to see you often；〃 said he。 〃I'll come and see you if you don't
live too far。〃
〃That's the trouble；〃 said the cow…puncher。 〃I do。 Awful far。〃 He stared
out of the window。
〃Well； I might come some time。 I wish you'd write me a letter。 Can you
write？〃 〃What's that？ Can I write？ Oh yes。〃
〃I can write； an' I can read too。 I've been to school in Sidney； Nebraska；
an' Magaw； Kansas； an' Salt Lakethat's the finest town except Denver。〃
Billy fell into that cheerful strain of comment which； unreplied to； yet
goes on contented and self…sustaining； while Mr。 McLean gave amiable
signs of assent； but chiefly looked out of the window； and when the now
interested waiter said respectfully that he desired to close the room； they
went out to the office； where the money was got out of the safe and the bill
paid。
The streets were full of the bright sun； and seemingly at Denver's gates
stood the mountains sparkling； an air crisp and pleasant wafted from their
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peaks； no smoke hung among the roofs； and the sky spread wide over the
city without a stain； it was holiday up among the chimneys and tall
buildings； and down among the quiet ground…stories below as well； and
presently from their scattered pinnacles through the town the bells broke
out against the jocund silence of the morning。
〃Don't you like music？〃 inquired Billy。
〃Yes；〃 said Lin。
Ladies with their husbands and children were passing and meeting；
orderly yet gayer than if it were only Sunday； and the salutations of
Christmas came now and again to the cow…puncher's ears； but to…day；
possessor of his own share in this； Lin looked at every one with a sort of
friendly challenge； and young Billy talked along beside him。
〃Don't you think we could go in here？〃 Billy asked。 A church door was
open； and the rich organ sounded through to the pavement。 〃They've good
music here； an' they keep it up without much talking between。 I've been in
lots of times。〃
They went in and sat to hear the music。 Better than the organ； it
seemed to them； were the harmonious voices raised from somewhere
outside； like unexpected visitants； and the pair sat in their back seat； too
deep in listening to the processional hymn to think of rising in decent
imitation of those around them。 The crystal melody of the refrain
especially reached their understandings； and when for the fourth time
〃Shout the glad tidings； exultingly sing；〃 pealed forth and ceased； both the
delighted faces fell。
〃Don't you wish there was more？〃 Billy whispered。
〃Wish there was a hundred verses；〃 answered Lin。
But canticles and responses followed； with so little talking between
them they were held spellbound； seldom thinking to rise or kneel。 Lin's
eyes roved over the church； dwelling upon the pillars in their evergreen；
the flowers and leafy wreaths； the texts of white and gold。 〃'Peace； good…
will towards men；'〃 he read。 〃That's so。 Peace and good…will。 Yes； that's so。
I expect they got that somewheres in the Bible。 It's awful good； and you'd
never think of it yourself。〃
There was a touch on his arm； and a woman handed a book to him。
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〃This is the hymn we have now；〃 she whispered； gently； and Lin； blushing
scarlet； took it passively without a word。 He and Billy stood up and held
the book together； dutifully reading the words：
〃It came upon the midnight clear；
That glorious song of old； From angels bending near
the earth To touch their harps of gold；
Peace on the earth〃
This tune was more beautiful than all； and Lin lost himself in it； until
he found Billy recalling him with a finger upon the words； the concluding
ones：
〃And the whole world sent back the song
Which now the angels sing。〃
The music rose and descended to its lovely and simple end； and； for a
second time in Denver； Lin brushed a hand across his eyes。 He turned his
face from his neighbor； frowning crossly； and since the heart has reasons
which Reason does not know； he seemed to himself a fool； but when the
service was over and he came out； he repeated again； 〃'Peace and good…
will。' When I run on to the Bishop of Wyoming I'll tell him if he'll preach
on them words I'll be there。〃
〃Couldn't we shoot your pistol now？〃 asked Billy。
〃Sure； boy。 Ain't yu' hungry； though？〃
〃No。 I wish we were away off up there。 Don't you？〃
〃The mountains？ They look pretty； so white！ A heap better 'n houses。
Why； we'll go there！ There's trains to Golden。 We'll shoot around among
the foothills。〃
To Golden they immediately went； and after a meal there； wandered in
the open country until the cartridges were gone； the sun was low； and Billy
was walked off his young heelsa truth he learned complete in one horrid
moment； and battled to conceal。
〃Lame！〃 he echoed； angrily。 〃I ain't。〃
〃Shucks！〃 said Lin； after the next ten steps。 〃You are； and both feet。〃
〃Tell you； there's stones here； an' I'm just a…skipping them。〃
Lin； briefly； took the boy in his arms and carried him to Golden。 〃I'm
played out myself；〃 he said； sitting in the hotel and looking lugubriously at
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Billy on a bed。 〃And I ain't fit to have charge of a hog。〃 He came and put
his hand on the boy's head。
〃I'm not sick；〃 said the cripple。 〃I tell you I'm bully。 You wait an' see
me eat dinner。〃
But Lin had hot water and cold water and salt； and was an hour upon
his knees bathing the hot feet。 And then Bi