"He is afraid it is a dream, ma'am, and I know we all of us have more or less doubts about it being really true. But, ma'am, we shore are anxious to find out all about it. We've rid thirty miles to see for ourselves, and I don't reckon you'll have any fears about our appetites being left at home when you sizes up the wreck left in the path of the storm after the stampede is over. The boys want to give you three cheers even if it is Sunday, ma'am, for your kindness to them, and I'm shore one of the boys!" "Hip, hip, horray!" yelled the crowd, surging forward. "Good boy, Bud!" they cried. "I'm proud of you, Buddie!" exulted Charley, slapping him extra heartily on the back. "I didn't know you had it in you, Bud!" cried Silent. "It was shore a dandy speech, all right." "We'll send you to Congress for that, some day, Bud," cried Jack Lawson. "You're all right!" "I once had a piece of pie, a piece of pie, a piece of pie, I once had a piece of pie, when I was five years old," sang Charley as he pranced toward the door. "Good! Go on, Charley, go on!" cried his companions joyously. "Now I'll have another piece, another piece, another piece, Now I'll have another piece, that's two all told. Good bye, Lee Lung, good bye Lee Lung, Good bye, Lee Lung, we're going to forget you now!" "Again on that Lee Lung, altogether--it hits me right!" cried Bud, and the matter pertaining to the farewells to Lee Lung was promptly and properly attended to in heartfelt sincerity. The ladies laughed with delight, and Mrs. Shields whispered to her husband, who nodded and escorted The Orphan to a seat near the head of the table, where he was flanked by Helen and Blake. "Grab your partners, boys," the sheriff cried, pointing to the chairs. There was a hasty piling of belts and guns on the ground, and after much confusion all were seated. The sheriff arose: "Boys, Mrs. Shields wants me to tell you how pleased she is to have you all here. She has felt plumb sorry about you and she shore has shuddered at the thought of a Chinee cook----" "Which same we all do--it's chronic," interposed Jim to laughter. "She wants you to make yourselves at home," continued the sheriff, "learn the lay of the land around this range and never forget the trail leading here, because she insists that when any of you come to town you have simply got to pay us a visit and see if there is a piece of pie or cake to eat before you go back to that cook. And Tom says that he'll fire the first man who renigs----" "I'm going to carry the mail hereafter!" cried Bud, scowling fiercely at Joe. "Not if I can shoot first, you don't!" retorted the mail carrier. "I was just a-wondering if it wouldn't be better to come in twice a week for it instead of once. We might get more letters." "We'll bid for your job next year," laughed Silent. "Before I coax you to eat," continued the sheriff, "I----" "Wrong word, Sheriff," interposed Humble. "Not coax, but force."