Bobby complied. He gave Pete a small grimy hand and looked him over
thoughtfully from tip to tip, opening his blue eyes to their widest for
that purpose, under their long black lashes.

"You Stan Mitchell's pardner?"

"I am that."

"You goin' to break him out o' the pen?"

"Surest thing you know!" said Pete.

"That's good!" He relaxed his grip on Pete's hand and addressed himself
to breakfast. "I like Stan," he announced, with his head in the
chuck-box.


Pete used the opportunity to exchange a look with Bobby's father.

Bobby emerged from the chuck-box and resumed the topic of Stanley
Mitchell.

"He'll make a hand after he's been here a spell--Stan will," he stated
gravely.

"Oh, you know him, then?"

"I was with him the evenin' before the big doin's. He didn't steal no
money!"