"Ain't it funny," says he, "how things work out sometimes? At first, you know, I thought she was one of your housemaids." "You done what?" says I. "Well, I don't deny it. When I first seen her in the yard, the time she chased that dog over, I thought she was one of the maids--you see, she had on a cap and a apern. I didn't know at all. The old lady thinks it yet." "She's mighty kind-hearted, even with the lower classes," says I. "She even gives money to them people that play music in front of our house every morning. I wish they wouldn't." "I wish she wouldn't do that," says he. "We have a awful time with that band. The old man said if he ever got to be alderman he'd get a ordinance through abolishing them off the streets. They play something fierce!" says he. "Is he going to run for alderman?" says I. "I seen something in the papers about it." "Well, yes; I believe he will--I heard him say he would." "If he does," says I, "I reckon hell will pop in this ward." "Why?" says he. "Well, my boss is figuring he may run for alderman hisself--he's naturalized here now. He used to be sher'f out in Cody whenever he wanted to be. When he wants anything, seems like he can't hardly help getting it. It's a way he has." He looks kind of thoughtful at that. "Well, now," says he, "well now, what do you know about that! As you say, Curly, ain't that hell?" He swore so easy and natural that I kind of liked him, and the way he taken up roping was to my thinking about the best of any tenderfoot I ever seen. "What are they piling up them rocks along the side of the yard for, Jimmie?" I ast him after a while. You see, there was several wagonloads of brick and stuff had been put in there that morning. "I don't know," says he. "Something the old man ordered, I reckon. He's away right now. They don't always tell me about things as much as I think they might." "I've often wondered they didn't fire you," says I. "They can't," says he. "I told you I've got too much on 'em. They don't dast to fire me none at all. I defy 'em!" says he. "Well, you better be a little careful," says I. "I've seen people felt that way about their boss before now, and right often they got the can. You better not get fired till you know a little bit more about roping and riding." "Hush!" says he. "I think I heard someone over in our boathouse. Good-by! I'll come round again tomorrow morning." He went on down the dock into their boathouse. I set down not far from the door, smoking and looking out over the lake. I heard someone in there begin to talk. It was him and Old Lady Wisner--I'd heard her before once in a while. I couldn't help hearing them if I'd wanted to, and I did want to. "James," says she, "where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you." "Why, nowhere especial," says he carelesslike. "I was just over on the dock doing some roping stunts with Curly."