you'll get just as different results as can be the second time--you
heard how I hit it in the mines, didn't you? No? Well, that's so;
you dint seen many people out on the flat, have you? Hum. I don't
know principally where to begin. You remember Wind-River Smith's
pardner that the boys called Shadder, because he was so thin? Nice
feller, always willing to do you a favour, or say something comical
when you least expected it--had kind of a style with him, too.
Yes, sir, that's the man. Well him and me was out in the Bend one
day, holding a mess of Oregon half-breeds that was to be shipped by
train shortly, when old Smithy comes with the mail. 'Letter for
you, Shadder,' says Smith, and passes over a big envelope with wads
of sealing wax all over it. Shadder reads his letter, and folds it
up. Then he takes a look over the county--the kind of a look a man
gives when he's thinking hard. Then says he, 'Red, take off your
hat.' I done it. 'Smithy, take off your hat.' 'All right,' says
Smith; 'but you tell me why, or I'll snake the shirt off you to
square things.'

"'Boys,' says Shadder, 'I'm Lord Walford.'

"'Lord Hellford;' hollers Smithy. 'You'd better call somebody in
to look at your plumbing--what you been drinkin', Shadder?'

"'Read for yourself,' says Shadder, and he handed him the letter.

"Wish't you could have seen old Smithy's face as he read it! He
thought his pardner had been cut out of his herd for ever.

"'It's the God's truth, Red,' says he slowly, and he had a sideways
smile on his face as he turned to Shadder. 'Well, sir,' says he,