Better go home to your ma. This ain't any place for you. They's men
aroun' here."
There was another one of those grimly expectant hushes and then a
general guffaw; Dan showed no inclination to take offence. He merely
stared at brawny Jim Silent with a sort of childlike wonder.
"All right," he said meekly, "if I ain't wanted around here I figger
there ain't any cause why I should stay. You don't figger to be peeved
at me, do you?"
The laughter changed to a veritable yell of delight. Even Silent
smiled with careless contempt.
"No, kid," he answered, "if I was peeved at you, you'd learn it
without askin' questions."
He turned slowly away.
"Maybe I got jaundice, boys," he said to the crowd, "but it seems to
me I see something kind of yellow around here!"
The delightful subtlety of this remark roused another side-shaking
burst of merriment. Dan shook his head as if the mystery were beyond
his comprehension, and looked to Morgan for an explanation. The
saloon-keeper approached him, struggling with a grin.
"It's all right, Dan," he said. "Don't let 'em rile you."
"You ain't got any cause to fear that," said Silent, "because it can't
be done."
CHAPTER V
FOUR IN THE AIR
Dan looked from Morgan to Silent and back again for understanding.
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