I hope we don't git
snowed in, because then we'd have to stand this here man bein'
around with us all the time. That wouldn't be no good."
"I wish pop would throw him out," said Johnnie.
Presently they heard a loud stamping on the stairs, accompanied by
ringing jokes in the voice of old Scully, and laughter, evidently from
the Swede. The men around the stove stared vacantly at each other.
"Gosh," said the cowboy. The door flew open, and old Scully, flushed
and anecdotal, came into the room. He was jabbering at the Swede,
who followed him, laughing bravely. It was the entry of two roysterers
from a banquet hall.
"Come now," said Scully sharply to the three seated men, "move up
and give us a chance at the stove." The cowboy and the Easterner
obediently sidled their chairs to make room for the newcomers.
Johnnie, however, simply arranged himself in a more indolent attitude,
and then remained motionless.
"Come! Git over, there," said Scully.
"Plenty of room on the other side of the stove," said Johnnie.
"Do you think we want to sit in the draught?" roared the father.
But the Swede here interposed with a grandeur of confidence. "No,
no. Let the boy sit where he likes," he cried in a bullying voice to
the father.
"All right! All right!" said Scully deferentially. The cowboy and
the Easterner exchanged glances of wonder.
The five chairs were formed in a crescent about one side of the
stove.
Pages:
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29