The burly one gave Billy a brief and gruff negative to his query and

went on painting barrel labels. He was thinking of other matters, but

Billy still hung around. He had a hunch that he might be going to make

merchandise in some way of the knowledge that he had gained, so he hung

around, silently, observantly, leaning on old rusty-trusty.

The man looked up and frowned suspiciously: "I told you NO!" he snapped threateningly, "What you standin' there

for?"

Billy regarded him amusedly as from a superior height.

"Don't happen to know of any odd jobs I could get," he finally

condescended.

"Where would you expect a job around this dump?" sneered the man with

an eloquent wave toward the majestic mountain, "Busy little hive right

here now, ain't it?"

He subsided and Billy, slowly, thoughtfully, mounted his wheel and rode

around the station, with the air of one who enjoys the scenery. The

third time he rounded the curve by the freight agent the man looked up

with a speculative squint and eyed the boy. The fourth time he called

out, straightening up and laying down his brush.

"Say, Kid, do you know how to keep yer mouth shut?"

The boy regarded him with infinite contempt.

"Well, that depends!" he said at last. "If anybody'd make it worth my

while."

The man looked at him narrowly, the tone was at once so casual and yet

so full of possible meaning. The keenest searching revealed nothing in

the immobile face of the boy. A cunning grew in the eyes of the man.

"How would a five look to you?"

"Not enough," said the boy promptly, "I need twenty-five."

"Well, ten then."

"The boy rode off down the platform and circled the station again while

the man stood puzzled, half troubled, and watched him: "I'll make it fifteen. What you want, the earth with a gold fence

around it?"

"I said I needed twenty-five," said Billy doggedly, lowering his eyes

to cover the glitter of coming triumph.

The thick one stood squinting off at the distant mountain thoughtfully,

then he turned and eyed Billy again.

"How'm I gonta know you're efficient?" he challenged.

"Guess you'c'n take me er leave me," came back the boy quickly. "Course

if you've got plenty help--"

The man gave him a quick bitter glance. The kid was sharp. He knew

there was no one else. Besides, how much had he overheard? Had he been

around when the station telephone rang? Kids like that were deep. You

could always count on them to do a thing well if they undertook it.




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