“‘We waits on you, Marm,’ says Enright, when ten minutes later Boggs, Cherokee, Texas Thompson an’ he is in the kitchen of the O. K. Restauraw where Missis Rucker is slicin’ salt hoss an’ layin’ the fragrant foundations of supper; ’we waits on you-all to ask your advice.  Dave Tutt’s been carryin’ on in a manner an’ form at once doobious an’ threatenin’.  It ain’t too much to say that we-all fears the worst.  We comes now to invite you to tell us all you knows of Dave an’ whatever it is that so onsettles him.  Our idee is that you onderstands a heap about it.’

“‘See yere, Sam Enright,’ retorts Missis Rucker, pausin’ over the salt hoss, ‘you ain’t doin’ yourse’f proud.  You better round up this herd of inebriates an’ get ’em back to the Red Light.  Thar’s nothin’ the matter with Dave; leastwise if it was the matter with you, you’d be some improved.  Dave Tutt’s a credit to this camp; never more so than now; the same bein’ a mighty sight more’n I could say of any of you-all an’ stick to the trooth.’

“‘Then you does know, Missis Rucker,’ says Enright, ’the secret that’s gnawin’ at Dave.’

“‘Know it,’ replies Misses Rucker, ’of course, I knows it.  But I don’t propose to discuss it none with you tarrapins.  I ain’t got no patience with sech dolts!  Now that you-all is yere, however, I’ll give you notice that to-morry you can begin to do your own cookin’ till you hears further word from me.  I’m goin’ to be otherwise an’ more congenially engaged.  Most likely I’ll be back in my kitchen ag’in in a day or two; but I makes no promises.  An’ ontil sech time as I shows up, you-all can go scuffle for yourse’fs.  I’ve got more important dooties jest now on my hands than cookin’ chuck for sots.’

“As Missis Rucker speaks up mighty vigorous, an’ as none of us has the nerve to ask her further an’ take the resk of turnin’ loose her temper, we lines out ag’in for the Red Light no cl’arer than what we was.

“‘I could ask her more questions,’ says Enright, ’but, gents, I didn’t deem it wise.  Missis Rucker is a most admirable character; but I’m sooperstitious about crowdin’ her too clost.  Like Boggs says about opals, thar’s plenty of bad luck lurkin’ about Missis Rucker’s environs if you only goes about its deevelopment the right way.’

“‘The sityooation is too many for me,’ says Boggs, goin’ up to the bar for a drink, ’I gives it up.  I ain’t got a notion left, onless it is that Dave’s runnin’ for office; that is, I might entertain sech a thought only thar ain’t no office.’

“‘The next day Missis Rucker abandons her post; an’ we tharupon finds that feedin’ ourse’fs keeps us busy an’ we don’t have much time to discuss Dave.  Also, Dave disappears;—­in fact, both Dave an’ Missis Rucker fades from view.

“It’s about fo’rth drink time the evenin’ of the third day, an’ most of us is in the Red Light.  Thar’s a gloom overhangs us like a fog.  Mebby it’s the oncertainties which envelops Dave, mebby it’s because Missis Rucker’s done deserted an’ left us to rustle for ourse’fs or starve.  Most of us is full of present’ments that something’s due to happen.