"Howdy, Zip?" he greeted genially. "Guessed I'd git around, seem' it was Sunday. Y'see, folks don't work any Sunday. I'd sure say it's a real blessin' folks is 'lowed to rest one day in seven. Talkin' o' work, I heerd tell you've took a pardner to your claim. Wild Bill's smart. He ain't bluffed you any?" The loafer seated himself in the other chair with an air of utter weariness. He might just have finished a spell of the most arduous labor, instead of having merely strolled across the dumps. Scipio smiled faintly. "He hasn't bluffed me any," he said gently. "Seems to me he wouldn't bluff me. Yes, he's in on ha'f my claim. Y'see, he thinks ther's gold in sight, an'--an' I know ther' ain't. That's what's troubling me. I kind of feel mean some." Sunny yawned luxuriously. "Don't you worry any," he said easily. "Bill's mighty wide. If he's come in on your claim he's--needin' to bad. Say--" He broke off and turned alertly to the door. A sound of voices reached them, and a moment later Sandy Joyce and Toby stood grinning in the doorway. "Gee!" cried Sunny. "Gettin' quite a party." "I'm real pleased you folks come along," Scipio declared warmly. He stood up and looked round uncertainly. "Say," he went on, his pale face flushing a little ruefully, "come right in, boys. I don't see jest where you're goin' to sit. Maybe the table's good an' strong. This chair'll do for one." But Toby would have none of it. "Set you down, Zip," he cried. "I got this doorway. Guess the table'll fit Sandy. He's kind o' high in his notions. I jest see Bill comin' along up from the river. Looked like he was comin' this way. How's the kids?" "Why, bully," said Scipio amiably. "Y'see, I got 'em fixed right all right since Sunny wrote out those regulations for me. Those regulations are jest dandy, and I'm desperate obliged to him. A feller would need to be a bum sort of fool, anyhow, who couldn't fix kids right with it all set out so careful. There sure are things set down there I'd never have thought of--an' I'm their father, too." He paused and glanced nervously round at the friendly faces. Then, with evident anxiety, he hurried on. "I was just thinkin'," he exclaimed, "maybe some hot coffee wouldn't come amiss. Y'see, I ain't no rye. Guess I'll make that coffee right away. I got water cooking on the stove. I was goin' to use it for bathin' the kids, but--" His visitors exchanged swift glances, and Sunny broke in. "Don't do it, Zip," he said with an amiable grin. "These boys don't figger to unpickle their vitals with no sech truck as coffee. Say"--his eyes wandered to where his carefully written regulations were posted, "talkin' o' baths, have you physicked the kids right?"