And Gray liked the youthful giant, too, once the latter had dropped his hostility and had become his natural self, for Ozark was a lad with temper and with temperament. They got along together swimmingly; in fact, they grew thicker than thieves in the course of time. The elder man soon became conscious of the fact that he was being studied, analyzed, even copied--the sincerest form of flattery--and it pleased his vanity. Buddy's mind was thirsty, his curiosity was boundless, questions popped out of him at every step, and every answer, every bit of information or of philosophy that fell from the visitor's lips he pounced upon, avidly examined, then carefully put away for future use. He was like a magpie filling its nest. Gray's personal habits, mannerisms, tricks--all were grist for Buddy's mill. The stranger's suit, for instance, was a curiosity to the boy, who could not understand wherein it was so different from any other he had ever seen; young Briskow attributed that difference to the fact that it had probably come from a bigger store than any he had known. It amazed him to learn, in answer to a pointed question, that it had been cut and fitted to the wearer by expert workmen. It disappointed him bitterly to be informed that there was not another one exactly like it which he could buy. And the visitor's silk shirt, with double cuffs and a monogram on the sleeve! Fancy "fixin's" like this, Buddy confessed, he had always associated with womenfolks, but if Gray wore them there could be nothing disgraceful, nothing effeminate about the practice. There was a decided thrill in the prospect of possessing such finery, all initialed with huge, silken O. B's. Life was presenting wholly novel and exciting possibilities to the youth. When Gray offered him a cigarette, Buddy rudely took the gold case out of his hand and examined it, then he laughed in raucous delight. "Gosh! I never knew men had _purty_ things. I--I'm goin' to get me one like that." "Do you like it?" "Gee! It's _swell_!" "Good! I'll make you a present of it." Buddy stared at the speaker in speechless surprise. "What--what for?" he finally stammered. "Because you admire it." "Why--it's solid gold, ain't it?" "To be sure." "How much d'it cost?" "My dear fellow," Gray protested, "you shouldn't ask questions like that. You embarrass me." Buddy examined the object anew, then he inquired, "Say, why'd you offer to gimme this?" "I've just told you." Gray was becoming impatient. "It is a custom in some countries to present an object to one who is polite enough to admire it." "Nobody never give _me_ a present," Buddy said. "Not one that I wanted. I never had _nothing_ that I didn't have to have and couldn't get along without. This cigareet case is worth more 'n all the stuff I ever owned, an' I'm sure obliged to you." He replaced the article in Gray's hand. "Eh? Won't you accept it? Why not?" "I--Oh, I dunno."