“‘Whatever for a play would it be,’ says Cherokee, ‘to go an’ ask Dave himse’f right now?’

“‘I’d be some slow about propoundin’ sech surmises to Dave,’ says Boggs.  ’He might get hostile; you can put a wager on it, he’d turn out disagree’ble to a degree, if he did.  No, you-all has got to handle a loonatic with gloves.  I knows a gent who entangles himse’f with a loonatic, askin’ questions, an’ he gets all shot up.’

“‘I reckons, however,’ says Cherokee, ’that I’ll assoome the resk.  Dave an’ me’s friends; an’ I allows if I goes after him in ways both soft an’ careless, so as not to call forth no suspicions, he’ll take it good-humoured even if he is locoed.’

“We-all sets breathless while Cherokee sa’nters down to where Dave’s still wropped in them melodies.

“‘Whatever be you hummin’ toones for, Dave?’ asks Cherokee all accidental like.

“‘Which I’m rehearsin’,’ says Dave, an’ he shows he’s made impatient.  ‘Don’t come infringin’ about me with no questions,’ goes on Dave.  ’I’m like the ancient Romans, I’ve got troubles of my own; an’ no sport who calls himse’f my friend will go aggravatin’ me with ontimely inquis’tiveness.’  Then Dave gets up an’ pulls his freight an’ leaves us more onsettled than at first.

“For a full hour, we does nothin’ but canvass this yere question of Dave’s aberrations.  At last a idee seizes us.  Thar’s times when Dave’s been seen caucusin’ with Missis Rucker an’ Doc Peets.  Most likely one of ’em would be able to shed a ray on Dave.  By a excellent coincidence, an’ as if to he’p us out, Peets comes in as Texas Thompson su’gests that mebby the Doc’s qualified to onravel the myst’ry.

“‘Tell you-all folks what’s the matter with Dave?’ says Peets.  ’Pards, it’s simply not in the deck.  Meanin’ no disrespects—­for you gents knows me too well to dream of me harborin’ anything but feelin’s of the highest regyards for one an’ all—­I’ll have to leave you camped in original darkness.  It would be breakin’ professional confidences.  Shore, I saveys Dave’s troubles an’ the causes of these vagaries of his; jest the same the traditions of the medical game forces me to hold ‘em sacred an’ secret.’

“‘Tell us at least, Doc,’ says Enright, ’whether Dave’s likely to grow voylent.  If he is, it’s only proper that we arranges to tie him down.’

“‘Dave may be boisterous later,’ says Peets, an’ his reply comes slow an’ thoughtful, like he’s considerin’; ’he may make a joyful uproar, but he won’t wax dangerous.’  This yere’s as far as Peets’ll go; he declines to talk longer, on professional grounds.

“‘Which suspense, this a-way,’ says Boggs, after Peets is gone, ‘an’ us no wiser than when he shows in the door, makes me desp’rate.  I’ll offer the motion:  Let’s prance over in a bunch, an’ demand a explanation of Missis Rucker.  Dave’s been talkin’ to her as much as ever he has to Peets, an’ thar’s no professional hobbles on the lady; she’s footloose, an’ free to speak.’