"Now I ’ve made up my mind, an’ that’s all there is about it. I can get along without you this once—I won’t do it again, you know—an’ I want you boys to have a rousin’ good time all by yoreselves. I want th’ boys to like me, Billy-Red, to feel that I ain’t changed _everythin’_ by bein’ here. Now you clear out—Lee knows all about it, an’ I cooked some goodies this afternoon for th’ feast. Johnny cleaned out th’ cake tins an’ scraped th’ bowls I mixed th’ fillin’ in—I had to drive him away. Look! There he is, leanin’ up against that tree watchin’ for me to set somethin’ out to cool. He purty near got away with a pie—oh, he ’s terrible! But he ’s a good boy, just th’ same." Tex turned, emitted a blood-curdling yell and started for the anxious Johnny, Hopalong close behind, while Mary stood in the door and watched the fun, laughing with delight. The outfit piled out of the bunk-house, caught sight of Johnny pounding towards them, and joined in, much to the Kid’s disgust. They did not know anything about the affair, but they did not have to know—Johnny was legitimate prey for all, at any time and under any conditions. The fleeing youngster was nearly caught twice as he dodged and doubled, but once past them, he drew away with ease. When the winded and laughing pursuers finally stopped, he circled around to the nearest corral, found a seat on the gate and watched them straggle back to the bunk-house, deriding them with cheerful abandon, dissecting them with a shrewd and cutting tongue. He took them up in rotation and laid bare their faults and weaknesses until they leaned against the wall and laughed at each other until the tears came. Then he turned to ridicule.