第64章

"'My pore child,' says Billy to Willyum about the third drink--Willyum is settin' on a monte-table an' payin' heed to Billy a heap decorous an' respectful for a three-year-old--'my pore child,' says Billy that a-way, 'you-all is ag'in a hard game up at your paw's.

This yere is playin' it plumb low on you, Willyum.It looks like they fills a hand ag'in you, son, an' you ain't in it no more at 'Doby's; who, whatever is your fool claims on that p'int a year ago, is still your dad ondoubted.But you-all knows me, Willyum.You knows that talk in Holy Writ.If your father an' mother shakes you, your Uncle Billy takes you up.I'm powerful 'fraid, Willyum, you'll have to have action on them promises.""Willyum listens to Billy plenty grave an' owly, but he don't make no observations on his luck or communicate no views to Billy except that he's hungry.This yere ain't relevant none, but Billy at once pastures him out on a can of sardines an' some crackers, while he keeps on bein' liberal to himse'f about whiskey.

"'I don't feel like denyin' myse'f nothin',' he says.'Yere I gets married, an' in less'n an hour my wife is ravaged away at the whoop of dooty to ride herd on another gent's fam'ly,; leavin' me, her husband, with that other gent's abandoned progeny on my hands.This yere's gettin' to be a boggy ford for Billy Rudd, you bet.'

"But while Billy takes on a heap, he don't impress me like he's hurt none after all.When Doc Peets trails in from 'Doby's, where he's been in the interests of science that a-way, Billy at once drug him aside for a pow-wow.They talks over in one corner of the Red Light awhile, then Billy looks up like one load's offen his mind, an'

yells:

" 'Barkeep, it's another boy.Use my name freely in urgin' drinks on the camp.'

"Then Billy goes on whisperin' to Doc Peets an' layin' down somethin', like his heart's sot on it.At last Doc says:

"'The best way, Billy, is for me to bring 'Doby over.' With this Doc Peets gets onto his pony at the door an' goes curvin' back to 'Doby's.

"'It's a boy,' says Billy to the rest of us after Doc Peets lines out, `an' child an' mother both on velvet an' winnin' right along.'

"These yere events crowdin' each other that a-way--first a weddin'

an' then an infant boy--has a brightenin' effect on public sperit.

It makes us feel like the camp's shorely gettin' a start.While we-alls is givin' way to Billy's desire to buy whiskey, Peets comes back, bringin' 'Doby.

"Thar's nothin' what you-alls calls dramatic about 'Doby an' Billy comin' together.They meets an' shakes, that's all.They takes a drink together, which shows they's out to be friends for good, an'

then Billy says:

"'But what I wants partic'lar, 'Doby, is that you makes over to me your son Willyum.He's shore the finest young-one in Arizona, an'

Marie an' me needs him to sorter organize on.'

"'Billy,' says 'Doby, 'you-all an' me is partners for years, an'

we're partners yet.We has our storm cloud, an' we has also our eras of peace.Standin' as we do on the brink of one of said eras, an' as showin' sincerity, I yereby commits to you my son Willyum.

Yereafter, when he calls you "Pop," it goes, an' the same will not be took invidious.'

"''Doby,' replies Billy, takin' him by the hand, 'this yere day 'lustrates the prophet when he says: "In the midst of life we're in luck." If you-all notes tears in my eyes I'm responsible for 'em.

Willyum's mine.As I r'ars him it will be with you as a model.Now you go back where dooty calls you.When you ceases to need my wife, Marie, send her back to camp, an' notify me tharof.Pendin' of which said notice, however,' concloods Billy, turnin' to us after 'Doby starts back, 'Willyum an' me entertains.'"