Chip got plate, knife, fork, and spoon and started for the stove.

“Help yourself to the tools, and then come over here and fill up,” he invited Pink, over his shoulder.  “We don’t stand on ceremony here.  May look queer to you at first, but you’ll get used to it.”

The Happy Family pricked up its ears and looked guardedly at one another.  This wasn’t a chance visitor, then; he was going to work!

Weary, sitting cross-legged in the shade of a wagon-wheel looked up at Pink, fumbling shyly among the knives and forks, and with deceitful innocence he whistled absently: 

  Oh, tell me, pretty maiden,
  Are there any more at home like you?

Pink glanced at him quickly, then at the solemn faces of the others, and retreated hastily inside the tent, where was Chip; and every man of them knew the stranger had caught Weary’s meaning.  They smiled discreetly at their plates and said nothing.

Pink came out with heaped plate and brimming cup, and retired diffidently to the farthest bit of shade he could find, which brought him close to Cal Emmett.  He sat down gingerly so as not to spill anything.

“Going to work for the outfit?” asked Cal politely.

“Yes, sir; the overseer gave me a position,” answered Pink sweetly, in his soft treble.  “I just came to town this morning.  Is it very hard work?”

“Yeah, it sure is,” said Cal plaintively, between bites.  “What with taming wild broncos and trying to keep the cattle from stampeding, our shining hours are sure improved a lot.  It’s a hard, hard life.”  He sighed deeply and emptied his cup of coffee.

“I—­I thought I’d like it,” ventured Pink wistfully.

“It’s dead safe to prognosticate yuh won’t a little bit.  None of us like it.  I never saw a man with soul so vile that he did.”

“Why don’t you give it up, then, and get a position at something else?” Pink’s eyes looked wide and wistful over the rim of his cup.

“Can’t.  We’re most of us escaped desperadoes with a price on our heads.”  Cal shook his own lugubriously.  “We’re safer here than we would be anywhere else.  If a posse showed up, or we got wind of one coming, there’s plenty uh horses and saddles to make a getaway.  We’d just pick out a drifter and split the breeze.  We can keep on the dodge a long time, working on round-up, and earn a little money at the same time, so when we do have to fly we won’t be dead broke.”

“Oh!” Pink looked properly impressed.  “If it isn’t too personal—­er—­is there a—­that is, are you——­”

“An outlaw?” Cal assisted.  “I sure am—­and then some.  I’m wanted for perjury in South Dakota, manslaughter in Texas, and bigamy in Utah.  I’m all bad.”

“Oh, I hope not!” Pink looked distressed.  “I’m very sorry,” he added simply, “and I hope the posses won’t chase you.”

Cal shook his head very, very gravely.  “You can’t most always tell,” he declared gloomily.  “I expect I’ll have an invite to a necktie-party some day.”