Denver, upon the following day, saw the little bootblack again at his corner, with his trade not lost; but near him stood a tall, singular man, with hazel eyes and a sulky expression. And citizens during that week noticed, as a new sight in the streets, the tall man and the little boy walking together. Sometimes they would be in shops. The boy seemed as happy as possible, talking constantly, while the man seldom said a word, and his face was serious. [Illustration: Border] Upon New Year’s Eve Governor Barker was overtaken by Mr. McLean riding a horse up Hill Street, Cheyenne. “Hello!” said Barker, staring humorously through his glasses. “Have a good drunk?” “Changed my mind,” said Lin, grinning. “Proves I’ve got one. Struck Christmas all right, though.” “Who’s your friend?” inquired his Excellency. “This is Mister Billy Lusk. Him and me have agreed that towns ain’t nice to live in. If Judge Henry’s foreman and his wife won’t board him at Sunk Creek—why, I’ll fix it somehow.” [Illustration: Border] The cow-puncher and his Responsibility rode on together towards the open plain. “Suffering Moses!” remarked his Excellency. THE END ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES 1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed. 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.